Next-Generation Germanium Spectrometer Background Reduction Techniques at 2 MeV

Journal Article · Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 2005 · Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 264(1):139-143

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-005-0686-9· OSTI ID:15020638

Brodzinski, Ronald L

The Majorana project, a next-generation 76Ge neutrinoless double-beta decay experiment being undertaken by a large international collaboration, has the goal of measuring the neutrinoless double-beta decay rate by observing monochromatic events at 2039 keV in 500 kg of isotopically enriched 76Ge gamma-ray spectrometers. In order to achieve the desired sensitivity limit, the background in the 2037-2041 keV region must be reduced to <1 event per year in the entire germanium array. The effects of various background reduction techniques, and the combination thereof, to produce a huge 76Ge spectrometer array with virtually zero background are discussed.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 15020638
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-44482; 400904120; TRN: US0504746
• Journal Information: Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 264(1):139-143, Vol. 264, Issue 1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
BETA DECAY
GERMANIUM 76
SENSITIVITY
GAMMA SPECTROMETERS
DESIGN