Prompt Gamma Rays in {sup 77}Ge after Neutron Capture on {sup 76}Ge

The observation of neutrinoless double beta decay would be proof of the Majorana nature of the neutrino. Half-lives for these decays are very long (for {sup 76}Ge:>10{sup 25} y), so background reduction and rejection is the major task for double beta experiments. The GERDA (GERmanium Detector Arr...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Meierhofer, Georg, Grabmayr, Peter, Jochum, Josef, Canella, Lea, Jolie, Jan, Kudejova, Petra, Warr, Nigel
Format: Conference Proceeding
Language:English
Subjects:
CAPTURE
DOUBLE BETA DECAY
FRM-II REACTOR
GAMMA CASCADES
GAMMA DECAY
GAMMA RADIATION
GAMMA SPECTRA
GE SEMICONDUCTOR DETECTORS
GERMANIUM 76
GERMANIUM 77
HALF-LIFE
LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS
NEUTRINOS
NEUTRON REACTIONS
NEUTRONS
NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
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Summary:The observation of neutrinoless double beta decay would be proof of the Majorana nature of the neutrino. Half-lives for these decays are very long (for {sup 76}Ge:>10{sup 25} y), so background reduction and rejection is the major task for double beta experiments. The GERDA (GERmanium Detector Array) experiment at the Gran Sasso Laboratory of the INFN (LNGS) searches for neutrinoless double beta decay of {sup 76}Ge. The isotope {sup 76}Ge is an ideal candidate because it can be used as source and detector at the same time. A large remaining contribution to the background arises from the prompt gamma cascade after neutron capture by {sup 76}Ge followed by {beta}{sup -}-decay of {sup 77}Ge. Since the prompt gamma decay scheme is poorly known, measurements with isotopically enriched Germanium samples were carried out at the PGAA facility at the research reactor FRM II (Munich). With the known prompt gamma spectrum it will be possible to improve the overall veto efficiency of the GERDA experiment.
ISSN:0094-243X
1551-7616
DOI:10.1063/1.3087085