Solubility, light output and energy resolution studies of molybdenum-loaded liquid scintillators

The search for neutrinoless double-beta decay is an important part of the global neutrino physics program. One double-beta decay isotope currently under investigation is 100Mo. In this article, we discuss the results of a feasibility study investigating the use of molybdenum-loaded liquid scintillator. A large, molybdenum-loaded liquid scintillator detector is one potential design for a low-background, internal-source 0νββ0νββ search with 100Mo. The program outlined in this article included the selection of a solute containing molybdenum, a scintillating solvent and the evaluation of the mixture's performance as a radiation detector.