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Title: Inelastic neutron scattering cross sections for Ge 76 relevant to background in neutrinoless double- β decay experiments

Abstract

The experimental signature in searches for the neutrinoless double- decay of 76Ge is a peak near 2039 keV in the spectrum. Given the low probability of the process, it is important that the background in this region be well understood. Moreover, inelastic scattering reactions with neutrons from muon-induced interactions and ( ,n) reactions in the surrounding materials or in the detector can provide contributions to the background. We also measured the production cross sections for rays from the 76Ge(n,n ) reaction in the 2039-keV region at incident neutron energies up to 4.9 MeV. In addition to determining that the cross sections of a previously known 2040.7-keV ray from the 3952-keV level in 76 Ge are rather small, we find that a larger contribution arises from a 2037.5-keV ray which is attributed to a newly identified level at 3147 keV in 76Ge. Finally, a third contribution is also possible from another new level at 3577 keV. These results indicate that the 2039-keV region in 76Ge neutrinoless double- decay searches is more complex than was previously thought.

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [3];  [1]
  1. Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington, KY (United States)
  2. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
  3. United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC); National Science Foundation (NSF)
OSTI Identifier:
1265801
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC05-00OR22725; PHY-1305801
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Physical Review C, Nuclear Physics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 92; Journal Issue: 3; Journal ID: ISSN 0556-2813
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS

Citation Formats

Crider, B. P., Peters, E. E., Allmond, J. M., McEllistrem, M. T., Prados-Estévez, F. M., Ross, T. J., Vanhoy, J. R., and Yates, S. W. Inelastic neutron scattering cross sections for Ge76 relevant to background in neutrinoless double- β decay experiments. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.1103/PhysRevC.92.034310.
Crider, B. P., Peters, E. E., Allmond, J. M., McEllistrem, M. T., Prados-Estévez, F. M., Ross, T. J., Vanhoy, J. R., & Yates, S. W. Inelastic neutron scattering cross sections for Ge76 relevant to background in neutrinoless double- β decay experiments. United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.92.034310
Crider, B. P., Peters, E. E., Allmond, J. M., McEllistrem, M. T., Prados-Estévez, F. M., Ross, T. J., Vanhoy, J. R., and Yates, S. W. 2015. "Inelastic neutron scattering cross sections for Ge76 relevant to background in neutrinoless double- β decay experiments". United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.92.034310. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1265801.
@article{osti_1265801,
title = {Inelastic neutron scattering cross sections for Ge76 relevant to background in neutrinoless double- β decay experiments},
author = {Crider, B. P. and Peters, E. E. and Allmond, J. M. and McEllistrem, M. T. and Prados-Estévez, F. M. and Ross, T. J. and Vanhoy, J. R. and Yates, S. W.},
abstractNote = {The experimental signature in searches for the neutrinoless double- decay of 76Ge is a peak near 2039 keV in the spectrum. Given the low probability of the process, it is important that the background in this region be well understood. Moreover, inelastic scattering reactions with neutrons from muon-induced interactions and ( ,n) reactions in the surrounding materials or in the detector can provide contributions to the background. We also measured the production cross sections for rays from the 76Ge(n,n ) reaction in the 2039-keV region at incident neutron energies up to 4.9 MeV. In addition to determining that the cross sections of a previously known 2040.7-keV ray from the 3952-keV level in 76 Ge are rather small, we find that a larger contribution arises from a 2037.5-keV ray which is attributed to a newly identified level at 3147 keV in 76Ge. Finally, a third contribution is also possible from another new level at 3577 keV. These results indicate that the 2039-keV region in 76Ge neutrinoless double- decay searches is more complex than was previously thought.},
doi = {10.1103/PhysRevC.92.034310},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1265801}, journal = {Physical Review C, Nuclear Physics},
issn = {0556-2813},
number = 3,
volume = 92,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Sep 11 00:00:00 EDT 2015},
month = {Fri Sep 11 00:00:00 EDT 2015}
}

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Works referenced in this record:

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