Neutrinoless double-{beta} decay of {sup 76}Ge: First results from the International Germanium Experiment (IGEX) with six isotopically enriched detectors

The International Germanium Experiment (IGEX) has six HPGe detectors, isotopically enriched to 86{percent} in {sup 76}Ge, containing approximately 90 active moles of {sup 76}Ge. Three detectors of 2 kg each operate in the Canfranc Underground Laboratory (Spain) with pulse-shape analysis electronics. One detector ({approximately}0.7 kg active volume) has been operating in the Baksan Low-Background Laboratory for several years, and two additional similar detectors will operate in Baksan. A maximum likelihood analysis of 74.84 active mole years of data yields a lower bound T{sub 1/2}{sup 0{nu}}{ge}0.8{times}10{sup 25}yr (90{percent} C.L.), corresponding to {l_angle}m{sub {nu}}{r_angle}{lt}(0.5{endash}1.5)eV, depending on the theoretical nuclear matrix elements used to extract the neutrino mass parameter. {copyright} {ital 1999} {ital The American Physical Society}