Search for sterile neutrinos with CUPID-0

Sterile neutrinos are well-motivated extensions of the Standard Model, introduced to address fundamental questions such as the origin of neutrino masses and the nature of dark matter. Exploiting the precise data reconstruction achieved by the CUPID-0 experiment, we searched for spectral distortions in the double beta-decay of Se-82 compatible with the emission of a sterile neutrino. The analysis relies on the construction of a detailed background model down to 200 keV, enabling an accurate characterization of the main sources of contamination. Using a (ZnSe)-Se-82 exposure of 9.95 kg & centerdot;yr, we explored sterile neutrino mass hypotheses between 0.5 MeV and 1.5 MeV. No evidence for a signal was observed in any scenario; therefore, we derived 90% C.I. upper limits on the active-sterile mixing probability sin(2) theta, obtaining the most stringent bound, sin(2) theta < 8 & times; 10(-3), for a sterile neutrino mass of 0.7 MeV.