Double-beta decay of $$^{130}hbox {Te}$$ to the first $$0^+$$ excited state of $$^{130}hbox {Xe}$$ with CUORE-0

We report on a search for double beta decay of 130Te to the first 0+ excited state of 130Xe using a 9.8 kg center dot yr exposure of 130Te collected with the CUORE-0 experiment. In this work we exploit different topologies of coincident events to search for both the neutrinoless and two-neutrino double beta decay modes. We find no evidence for either mode and place lower bounds on the half-lives: T01+0 nu>7.9 center dot 1023yr and T01+2 nu>2.4 center dot 1023yr (90%CL). Combining our results with those obtained by the CUORICINO experiment, we achieve the most stringent constraints available for these processes: T01+0 nu>1.4 center dot 1024yr and T01+2 nu>2.5 center dot 1023yr (90%CL).