Electron-capture branching ratio measurements of odd-odd intermediate nuclei in double-beta decay at the TITAN facility

A novel technique to measure electron-capture branching ratios is being introduced, where the TITAN ion traps and the ISAC radioactive beam facility at TRIUMF are the central components. The technique will be applied to the intermediate odd-odd nuclei in double-beta decay. The decay properties of these nuclei will constrain theoretical models dealing with the evaluation of the nuclear matrix elements for both the 2v and the 0v mode. The present setup and its potential for measuring extremely low branching ratios at low instrumental backgrounds is described.