Thick-target yields of iodine isotopes from proton interactions in Te, and the double-β decays ofTe128,130

We measured thick-target yields of ${}_{}{}^{126,128,130}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{I}$ from bombardments of natural Te targets with 15-, 30-, 45-, and 50-MeV protons, together with iodine production cross sections for 1.85- and 5.0-GeV protons. Using these data, we have estimated the relative cosmic-ray induced production of ${}_{}{}^{126}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Xe}$, ${}_{}{}^{128}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Xe}$, and ${}_{}{}^{130}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Xe}$ in Te ores. These quantities are significantly different from those used previously in a determination of the ratio of the double-β decay half-lives of ${}_{}{}^{130}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Te}$ and ${}_{}{}^{128}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Te}$, and as a result the cosmic-ray correction is smaller than previously assumed. A revised correction of cosmic-ray produced xenon can change the half-life ratio by about 6%. This quantity is of importance because it can be used to set a limit on the 0-ν double-β decay mode.