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

Abstract

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.

Authors:
;  [1]; ; ; ; ;  [2];  [3]; ;  [4]; ; ;  [5];  [5];  [6];  [7]
  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)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22436681
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Nuclear Data Sheets
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 120; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2014 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0090-3752
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
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

Citation Formats

Domula, A.R., E-mail: alex_do@gmx.net, Gehre, D., Zuber, K., Drohé, J. C., Nankov, N., Plompen, A. J.M., Rouki, C., Stanoiu, M., Klix, A., Buffler, A., Geduld, D., Smit, F. D., Vermeulen, C., Maleka, P., Newman, R. T., Department of Physics, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland 7602, Nolte, R., Wallner, A., and Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics and Engineering, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200. New Nuclear Structure and Decay Results in the {sup 76}Ge–{sup 76}As System. United States: N. p., 2014. Web. doi:10.1016/J.NDS.2014.07.002.
Domula, A.R., E-mail: alex_do@gmx.net, Gehre, D., Zuber, K., Drohé, J. C., Nankov, N., Plompen, A. J.M., Rouki, C., Stanoiu, M., Klix, A., Buffler, A., Geduld, D., Smit, F. D., Vermeulen, C., Maleka, P., Newman, R. T., Department of Physics, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland 7602, Nolte, R., Wallner, A., & Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics and Engineering, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200. New Nuclear Structure and Decay Results in the {sup 76}Ge–{sup 76}As System. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.NDS.2014.07.002
Domula, A.R., E-mail: alex_do@gmx.net, Gehre, D., Zuber, K., Drohé, J. C., Nankov, N., Plompen, A. J.M., Rouki, C., Stanoiu, M., Klix, A., Buffler, A., Geduld, D., Smit, F. D., Vermeulen, C., Maleka, P., Newman, R. T., Department of Physics, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland 7602, Nolte, R., Wallner, A., and Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics and Engineering, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200. 2014. "New Nuclear Structure and Decay Results in the {sup 76}Ge–{sup 76}As System". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.NDS.2014.07.002.
@article{osti_22436681,
title = {New Nuclear Structure and Decay Results in the {sup 76}Ge–{sup 76}As System},
author = {Domula, A.R., E-mail: alex_do@gmx.net and Gehre, D. and Zuber, K. and Drohé, J. C. and Nankov, N. and Plompen, A. J.M. and Rouki, C. and Stanoiu, M. and Klix, A. and Buffler, A. and Geduld, D. and Smit, F. D. and Vermeulen, C. and Maleka, P. and Newman, R. T. and Department of Physics, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland 7602 and Nolte, R. and Wallner, A. and Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics and Engineering, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {10.1016/J.NDS.2014.07.002},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22436681}, journal = {Nuclear Data Sheets},
issn = {0090-3752},
number = ,
volume = 120,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Sun Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}