Enrichment of (150)Nd for neutrinoless double-beta decay detection

A 562 nm–627 nm–597 nm three-step resonant photoionization scheme has been studied using the density matrix formalism for the enrichment of (150)Nd in weighable quantities for the neutrinoless double-beta decay detection. The effect of bandwidth of the excitation laser and charge exchange collisions, on the production rates and degree of enrichment has also been studied. Optimum conditions for the efficient enrichment of (150)Nd isotope have been derived. It has been shown that it might be possible to produce 50 kg of 66% enriched (150)Nd isotope in about five months (16 h/day) using the conditions derived through this investigation. This enables to reach the 0νββ decay half-life limit of ≈ 1.8 × 10(25) year for the (150)Nd isotope.