No abstract

The two-neutrino mode of double beta decay (2νββ) of 96 Zr is investigated both theoretically and experimentally. The calculations, using the quasiparticle random phase approximation approach, show that for 96 Zr the detection of 2νββ transitions to the two first excited states in the daughter nuclide will be possible in the very near future. On the experimental side, new, most stringent limits on half-lives for the double beta decay of 96 Zr to excited states in 96 Mo have been obtained with a 430 cm 3 'well-type' germanium detector. They range between 5 × 10 19 and 8 × 10 19 years (90% CL).