skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Evaluation of radioactive background rejection in 76Ge neutrino-lessdouble-beta decay experiments using a highly segmented HPGe detector

Abstract

A highly segmented coaxial HPGe detector was operated in a low background counting facility for over 1 year to experimentally evaluate possible segmentation strategies for the proposed Majorana neutrino-less double-beta decay experiment. Segmentation schemes were evaluated on their ability to reject multi-segment events while retaining single-segment events. To quantify a segmentation scheme's acceptance efficiency the percentage of peak area due to single segment events was calculated for peaks located in the energy region 911-2614 keV. Single interaction site events were represented by the double-escape peak from the 2614 keV decay in {sup 208}Tl located at 1592 keV. In spite of its prototypical nature, the detector performed well under realistic operating conditions and required only minimal human interaction. Though the energy resolution for events with interactions in multiple segments was impacted by inter-segment cross-talk, the implementation of a cross-talk correlation matrix restored acceptable resolution. Additionally, simulations utilizing the MaGe simulation package were performed and found to be in good agreement with experimental observations verifying the external nature of the background radiation.

Authors:
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
Nuclear Science Division
OSTI Identifier:
934984
Report Number(s):
LBNL-698E
TRN: US0804033
DOE Contract Number:  
DE-AC02-05CH11231
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physical Review Letter
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Name: Physical Review Letter
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
73; 72; BACKGROUND RADIATION; DECAY; EFFICIENCY; ENERGY RESOLUTION; EVALUATION; IMPLEMENTATION; RESOLUTION; SIMULATION

Citation Formats

Chan, Yuen-Dat, Campbell, D B, Vetter, K, Henning, R, Lesko, K, Chan, Y D, Poon, A W.P., Perry, M, Hurley, D, and Smith, A R. Evaluation of radioactive background rejection in 76Ge neutrino-lessdouble-beta decay experiments using a highly segmented HPGe detector. United States: N. p., 2007. Web.
Chan, Yuen-Dat, Campbell, D B, Vetter, K, Henning, R, Lesko, K, Chan, Y D, Poon, A W.P., Perry, M, Hurley, D, & Smith, A R. Evaluation of radioactive background rejection in 76Ge neutrino-lessdouble-beta decay experiments using a highly segmented HPGe detector. United States.
Chan, Yuen-Dat, Campbell, D B, Vetter, K, Henning, R, Lesko, K, Chan, Y D, Poon, A W.P., Perry, M, Hurley, D, and Smith, A R. 2007. "Evaluation of radioactive background rejection in 76Ge neutrino-lessdouble-beta decay experiments using a highly segmented HPGe detector". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/934984.
@article{osti_934984,
title = {Evaluation of radioactive background rejection in 76Ge neutrino-lessdouble-beta decay experiments using a highly segmented HPGe detector},
author = {Chan, Yuen-Dat and Campbell, D B and Vetter, K and Henning, R and Lesko, K and Chan, Y D and Poon, A W.P. and Perry, M and Hurley, D and Smith, A R},
abstractNote = {A highly segmented coaxial HPGe detector was operated in a low background counting facility for over 1 year to experimentally evaluate possible segmentation strategies for the proposed Majorana neutrino-less double-beta decay experiment. Segmentation schemes were evaluated on their ability to reject multi-segment events while retaining single-segment events. To quantify a segmentation scheme's acceptance efficiency the percentage of peak area due to single segment events was calculated for peaks located in the energy region 911-2614 keV. Single interaction site events were represented by the double-escape peak from the 2614 keV decay in {sup 208}Tl located at 1592 keV. In spite of its prototypical nature, the detector performed well under realistic operating conditions and required only minimal human interaction. Though the energy resolution for events with interactions in multiple segments was impacted by inter-segment cross-talk, the implementation of a cross-talk correlation matrix restored acceptable resolution. Additionally, simulations utilizing the MaGe simulation package were performed and found to be in good agreement with experimental observations verifying the external nature of the background radiation.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/934984}, journal = {Physical Review Letter},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Feb 05 00:00:00 EST 2007},
month = {Mon Feb 05 00:00:00 EST 2007}
}