LBL/UCSB /sup 76/Ge double beta decay experiment: first results

Conference · Mon Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984

OSTI ID:5959463

Goulding, F S; Cork, C P; Landis, D A; Luke, P N; Madden, N W; Malone, D F; Pehl, R H; Smith, A R; Caldwell, D O; Eisberg, R M

A paper given at the IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium last year presented the scientific justification for this experiment and discussed the design of the detector system. At the present time two of the dual detector systems (i.e., four out of a final total of eight detectors) are operating in the complete active/passive shield in the low background laboratory at LBL. Early results (1620 h) of an experiment using two detectors yield a limit of 4 x 10/sup 22/ years (68% confidence) for the half life of the neutrinoless double beta decay (..beta beta../sub o nu/) of /sup 76/Ge. Although this experiment was carried out above ground, the result approaches those achieved by other groups in deep underground laboratories. Based on studies of the origins of background in our system, we hope to reach a limit of 3 x 10/sup 23/ years (or more) in a two month/four detector experiment to be carried out soon in an underground facility.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (USA); California Univ., Santa Barbara (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 5959463
• Report Number(s): LBL-18043; CONF-841007-62; ON: DE85008454
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

440101 -- Radiation Instrumentation-- General Detectors or Monitors & Radiometric Instruments
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
651622* -- Nuclear Properties & Reactions
A=59-89
Experimental-- Radioactive Decay-- (-1987)
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
BACKGROUND RADIATION
BETA DECAY
BETA-MINUS DECAY
COINCIDENCE METHODS
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
DECAY
DOUBLE BETA DECAY
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
GE SEMICONDUCTOR DETECTORS
GERMANIUM 76
GERMANIUM ISOTOPES
HALF-LIFE
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
LIMITING VALUES
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NAI DETECTORS
NUCLEI
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIATIONS
SCINTILLATION COUNTERS
SEMICONDUCTOR DETECTORS
SENSITIVITY
SOLID SCINTILLATION DETECTORS
STABLE ISOTOPES