EXO: the Enriched Xenon Observatory for Double Beta Decay

EXO is a search for neutrinoless double beta decay in 136Xe. An active R&D program for a 10 ton, enriched 136Xe liquid phase detector is now underway. Current research projects are: decay product extraction, Xe purity studies, energy resolution studies, and Ba+ ion laser-tagging. By extracting and laser-tagging the Xe decay product (136Ba) and optimizing the energy resolution in liquid Xe, half lives of up to 5.0x10^28yr will be ultimately probed, corresponding to a sensitivity to Majorana n masses > ~10meV.