New Nuclear Structure and Decay Results in the {sup 76}Ge–{sup 76}As System

Journal Article · Sun Jun 15 04:00:00 EDT 2014 · Nuclear Data Sheets

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.NDS.2014.07.002· OSTI ID:22436681

Gehre, D.; Zuber, K. ^[1]; Drohé, J. C.; Nankov, N.; Plompen, A. J.M.; Rouki, C.; Stanoiu, M. ^[2]; Klix, A. ^[3]; Buffler, A.; Geduld, D. ^[4]; Smit, F. D.; Vermeulen, C.; Maleka, P. ^[5]; Newman, R. T. ^[5]; Nolte, R. ^[6]; Wallner, A. ^[7]

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1. Technische Universität Dresden, Institut für Kern- und Teilchenphysik, Zellescher Weg 19, D-01069 Dresden (Germany)
2. European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements, Retieseweg 111, B-2440 Geel (Belgium)
3. Institute for Neutron Physics and Reactor Technology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, D-76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen (Germany)
4. Department of Physics, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7701 (South Africa)
5. iThemba LABS, P O Box 722, Somerset West, 7129 (South Africa)
6. Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Bundesallee 100, D-38116 Braunschweig (Germany)
7. Faculty of Physics, Univ. of Vienna, VERA Laboratory, Waehringer Strasse 17, A-1090 Vienna (Austria)

The process of neutrinoless double beta decay (0νββ) plays a key role in modern neutrino physics. Experiments on {sup 76}Ge 0νββ-decay using germanium semiconductors are at the forefront in this field. Due to the extremely low count rates expected for this rare decay, any kind of background event in the detector, especially at energies close to Qββ=2039.006 keV must be avoided. Therefore, a careful investigation on the neutron-induced background was carried out. In this scope experiments investigating the inelastic neutron excitation of the lower lying and the 69{sup th} excited level of {sup 76}Ge have been performed. The existence of a 2040.7 keV gamma-ray, that occurs by the de-excitation of the 69{sup th} excited level, was confirmed. Interfering background from {sup 68}Ge was studied via cross-section measurements of the {sup nat}Ge(n,jn){sup 68}Ge reaction using quasi-monoenergetic neutrons and accelerator mass specrometry for {sup 68}Ge detection. In order to explore the matrix element for the transition between the {sup 76}Ge-{sup 76}As ground states, the electron–capture of {sup 76}As has been measured for the first time.

• OSTI ID: 22436681
• Journal Information: Nuclear Data Sheets, Journal Name: Nuclear Data Sheets Vol. 120; ISSN NDTSBA; ISSN 0090-3752
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
ARSENIC 76
DE-EXCITATION
DOUBLE BETA DECAY
EXCITATION
EXCITED STATES
GERMANIUM
GERMANIUM 68
GERMANIUM 76
GROUND STATES
MEV RANGE 01-10
NEUTRINOS
NEUTRON REACTIONS
NEUTRONS
NUCLEAR STRUCTURE
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS