A new search for the decay modes of the 4-fold forbidden non-unique decay of $^{ 50}$V has been performed at the Gran Sasso Underground Laboratory (LNGS). In total an exposure of 197 kg $\times$ d has been accumulated. The half-life for the electron capture into the first excited state of $^{ 50}$Ti has been measured with the highest precision to date as $2.67_{ -0.18}^{ +0.16} \times 10^{ 17}$ yr (68% C.I.) in which systematics uncertainties dominate. The search for the $\beta$-decay into the first excited state of $^{ 50}$Cr resulted in a lower limit of ${ 1.9} \times 10^{ 19}$ yr (90% C.I.), which is an improvement of almost one order of magnitude compared to existing results. The sensitivity of the new measurement is now in the region of theoretical predictions.
Categories: nucl-ex