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1. Status of the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR

Author

D. Byram, Jonathan D. Leon, M. Shirchenko, T. Gilliss, John L. Orrell, Vladimir Yumatov, R. D. Martin, Alan Poon, M. P. Green, Anne-Marie Suriano, J. A. Detwiler, W. Xu, Stanley M. Howard, H. Ejiri, J. F. Wilkerson, C.-H. Yu, C.M. O'Shaughnessy, B. R. White, R. G. H. Robertson, Yu. Efremenko, M. Buuck, Keith Rielage, E. Romero-Romero, S. I. Konovalov, J. E. Trimble, J. Rager, A. Galindo-Uribarri, I. Zhitnikov, Matthew Busch, C. Cuesta, F. T. Avignone, Kai Vetter, S. Vasilyev, Yuen-Dat Chan, Brian D. LaFerriere, C. D. Christofferson, R. L. Varner, J. MacMullin, Reyco Henning, N. Abgrall, D. J. Tedeschi, I. S. Guinn, B. Shanks, B. R. Jasinski, Eric W. Hoppe, J. Gruszko, A. S. Caldwell, V. E. Guiseppe, K. Vorren, C. Wiseman, M. A. Howe, F. E. Bertrand, J. Goett, A. W. Bradley, S. R. Elliott, D. C. Radford, K. Keeter, E. Yakushev, A. S. Barabash, V.B. Brudanin, Richard T. Kouzes, C. X. Balderrot-Barrera, G. K. Giovanetti, S. J. Meijer, Susanne Mertens, M. F. Kidd, I. J. Arnquist, and N. Snyder

Subjects
Physics, Nuclear and High Energy Physics, Particle physics, 010308 nuclear & particles physics, business.industry, Modular design, 01 natural sciences, Semiconductor detector, Nuclear physics, MAJORANA, 0103 physical sciences, Detector array, 010306 general physics, business
Abstract

The MAJORANA Collaboration is constructing the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR, an ultralow background, 40-kg modular high purity Ge (HPGe) detector array to search for neutrinoless double-beta decay (0νββ-decay) in 76Ge. The goal of the experiment is to demonstrate a background rate at or below 3 counts/(t-y) in the 4 keV region of interest (ROI) around the 2039 keV Q-value for 76Ge 0νββ-decay. In this paper, the status of the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR, including its design and measurements of properties of the HPGe crystals is presented.

Published
2017
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2. High voltage testing for the Majorana Demonstrator

Author

Ralph Massarczyk, A. Galindo-Uribarri, Yuen-Dat Chan, S. Vasilyev, A. Li, A. Thompson, Alan Poon, N. Abgrall, Anne-Marie Suriano, J. A. Detwiler, Z. Fu, F. E. Bertrand, R. D. Martin, J. Gruszko, J. Goett, J. F. Wilkerson, R. G. H. Robertson, M. A. Howe, E. Romero-Romero, D. J. Tedeschi, B. R. White, C.M. O'Shaughnessy, Stanley M. Howard, Jonathan D. Leon, I. S. Guinn, F. T. Avignone, R. L. Varner, B. R. Jasinski, M. P. Green, M. Buuck, C. Wiseman, Reyco Henning, Eric W. Hoppe, C. Cuesta, J. Rager, D. Byram, Matthew Busch, Y.-U. Efremenko, P. J. Doe, C.-H. Yu, H. Ejiri, A. S. Barabash, Susanne Mertens, A. W. Bradley, V. Yumatov, K. J. Keeter, V.B. Brudanin, B. Shanks, V. E. Guiseppe, S. R. Elliott, Brian D. LaFerriere, D. C. Radford, A. S. Caldwell, Keith Rielage, M. Shirchenko, John L. Orrell, J. MacMullin, Kai Vetter, S. J. Meijer, C. D. Christofferson, K. Vorren, K. T. Ton, M. F. Kidd, E. Yakushev, C. Dunagan, S. I. Konovalov, W. Xu, G. K. Giovanetti, J. E. Trimble, Pinghan Chu, Richard T. Kouzes, I. J. Arnquist, and N. Snyder

Subjects
Nuclear and High Energy Physics, Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors, Vacuum, FOS: Physical sciences, Feedthrough, Context (language use), nucl-ex, Atomic, 01 natural sciences, High Energy Physics - Experiment, Nuclear physics, High Energy Physics - Experiment (hep-ex), Particle and Plasma Physics, 0103 physical sciences, Nuclear, Nuclear Experiment (nucl-ex), 010306 general physics, physics.ins-det, Nuclear Experiment, Instrumentation, Physics, MAJORANA, hep-ex, 010308 nuclear & particles physics, business.industry, Detector, Electrical engineering, Molecular, High voltage, Instrumentation and Detectors (physics.ins-det), High-voltage, Micro-discharge, Modular design, Nuclear & Particles Physics, Semiconductor detector, Other Physical Sciences, business, Astronomical and Space Sciences, Voltage
Abstract

The MAJORANA Collaboration is constructing the MAJORANA Demonstrator, an ultra-low background, 44-kg modular high-purity Ge (HPGe) detector array to search for neutrinoless double-beta decay in Ge-76. The phenomenon of surface micro-discharge induced by high-voltage has been studied in the context of the MAJORANA Demonstrator. This effect can damage the front-end electronics or mimic detector signals. To ensure the correct performance, every high-voltage cable and feedthrough must be capable of supplying HPGe detector operating voltages as high as 5 kV without exhibiting discharge. R&D measurements were carried out to understand the testing system and determine the optimum design configuration of the high-voltage path, including different improvements of the cable layout and feedthrough flange model selection. Every cable and feedthrough to be used at the MAJORANA Demonstrator was characterized and the micro-discharge effects during the MAJORANA Demonstrator commissioning phase were studied. A stable configuration has been achieved, and the cables and connectors can supply HPGe detector operating voltages without exhibiting discharge., 9 pages, 12 figures, 8 tables, submitted to NIM A

Published
2016
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3. Search for Neutrinoless Double- β Decay in Ge76 with the Majorana Demonstrator

Author

S. I. Alvis, D. J. Tedeschi, I. Zhitnikov, J. C. Loach, M. Boswell, J. I. Collar, B. R. Jasinski, J. Myslik, C. O'Shaughnessy, L. E. Leviner, Henning O. Back, J. MacMullin, Kai Vetter, W. Xu, V. Yumatov, I. S. Guinn, D. M. Mei, R. A. Johnson, Ronald L. Brodzinski, M. F. Kidd, Yuen-Dat Chan, T. S. Caldwell, A. W. Bradley, A. S. Caldwell, S. I. Konovalov, E. Aguayo, S. R. Elliott, M. Busch, M. Shirchenko, John L. Orrell, P. H. Chu, G. Othman, Reynold J. Cooper, Ralph Massarczyk, A. Galindo-Uribarri, Craig E. Aalseth, M. C. Ronquest, J. Goett, C. J. Barton, K. T. Lesko, S. Zimmermann, T. Gilliss, J. E. Trimble, D. Steele, C. Wiseman, B. K. Fujikawa, K. Vorren, S. Vasilyev, H. Yaver, J. Gruszko, I. J. Arnquist, N. W. Ruof, Keith Rielage, N. Snyder, P. Finnerty, Alexis G. Schubert, C. D. Christofferson, Harry S. Miley, Paul N. Luke, M. Buuck, M. A. Howe, A. L. Hallin, N. Abgrall, Yu. Efremenko, Alan Poon, J. Rager, Anne-Marie Suriano, Paul Barton, A. B. McDonald, J. A. Detwiler, Jonathan D. Leon, James E. Fast, A. S. Barabash, J. H. Merriman, C. Cuesta, R. Henning, C. R. Haufe, A. Knecht, Erin S. Fuller, F. E. Bertrand, F. T. Avignone, R. L. Varner, Michael G. Marino, D. C. Radford, K. J. Snavely, C.-H. Yu, A. M. Lopez, J.H. Reeves, K. Pushkin, T. Bode, E. Yakushev, P. J. Doe, Walter C. Pettus, Todd W. Hossbach, B. X. Zhu, A. L. Reine, K. J. Keeter, V.B. Brudanin, P. S. Barbeau, Nicole R. Overman, A. R. Young, D. G. Phillips, Brian D. LaFerriere, V. E. Guiseppe, J. A. Dunmore, G. K. Giovanetti, M. L. Miller, R. D. Martin, Eric W. Hoppe, Richard T. Kouzes, Susanne Mertens, R. G. H. Robertson, B. Shanks, Jeremy D. Kephart, Werner Tornow, D. C. Combs, Z. Fu, S.J. J Meijer, B. Bos, F. M. Fraenkle, G. Perumpilly, V. M. Gehman, J. F. Wilkerson, B. R. White, L. Hehn, M. P. Green, S. MacMullin, H. Ejiri, and Mark Amman

Subjects
Physics, Semileptonic decay, 010308 nuclear & particles physics, General Physics and Astronomy, 01 natural sciences, Semiconductor detector, Nuclear physics, Full width at half maximum, MAJORANA, Double beta decay, 0103 physical sciences, Neutrino, 010306 general physics, Neutrino oscillation, Energy (signal processing)
Abstract

The Majorana Collaboration is operating an array of high purity Ge detectors to search for neutrinoless double-β decay in ^{76}Ge. The Majorana Demonstrator comprises 44.1 kg of Ge detectors (29.7 kg enriched in ^{76}Ge) split between two modules contained in a low background shield at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, South Dakota. Here we present results from data taken during construction, commissioning, and the start of full operations. We achieve unprecedented energy resolution of 2.5 keV FWHM at Q_{ββ} and a very low background with no observed candidate events in 9.95 kg yr of enriched Ge exposure, resulting in a lower limit on the half-life of 1.9×10^{25} yr (90% C.L.). This result constrains the effective Majorana neutrino mass to below 240-520 meV, depending on the matrix elements used. In our experimental configuration with the lowest background, the background is 4.0_{-2.5}^{+3.1} counts/(FWHM t yr).

Published
2018
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4. Search for Neutrinoless Double-β Decay in ^{76}Ge with the Majorana Demonstrator

Author

C E, Aalseth, N, Abgrall, E, Aguayo, S I, Alvis, M, Amman, I J, Arnquist, F T, Avignone, H O, Back, A S, Barabash, P S, Barbeau, C J, Barton, P J, Barton, F E, Bertrand, T, Bode, B, Bos, M, Boswell, A W, Bradley, R L, Brodzinski, V, Brudanin, M, Busch, M, Buuck, A S, Caldwell, T S, Caldwell, Y-D, Chan, C D, Christofferson, P-H, Chu, J I, Collar, D C, Combs, R J, Cooper, C, Cuesta, J A, Detwiler, P J, Doe, J A, Dunmore, Yu, Efremenko, H, Ejiri, S R, Elliott, J E, Fast, P, Finnerty, F M, Fraenkle, Z, Fu, B K, Fujikawa, E, Fuller, A, Galindo-Uribarri, V M, Gehman, T, Gilliss, G K, Giovanetti, J, Goett, M P, Green, J, Gruszko, I S, Guinn, V E, Guiseppe, A L, Hallin, C R, Haufe, L, Hehn, R, Henning, E W, Hoppe, T W, Hossbach, M A, Howe, B R, Jasinski, R A, Johnson, K J, Keeter, J D, Kephart, M F, Kidd, A, Knecht, S I, Konovalov, R T, Kouzes, B D, LaFerriere, J, Leon, K T, Lesko, L E, Leviner, J C, Loach, A M, Lopez, P N, Luke, J, MacMullin, S, MacMullin, M G, Marino, R D, Martin, R, Massarczyk, A B, McDonald, D-M, Mei, S J, Meijer, J H, Merriman, S, Mertens, H S, Miley, M L, Miller, J, Myslik, J L, Orrell, C, O'Shaughnessy, G, Othman, N R, Overman, G, Perumpilly, W, Pettus, D G, Phillips, A W P, Poon, K, Pushkin, D C, Radford, J, Rager, J H, Reeves, A L, Reine, K, Rielage, R G H, Robertson, M C, Ronquest, N W, Ruof, A G, Schubert, B, Shanks, M, Shirchenko, K J, Snavely, N, Snyder, D, Steele, A M, Suriano, D, Tedeschi, W, Tornow, J E, Trimble, R L, Varner, S, Vasilyev, K, Vetter, K, Vorren, B R, White, J F, Wilkerson, C, Wiseman, W, Xu, E, Yakushev, H, Yaver, A R, Young, C-H, Yu, V, Yumatov, I, Zhitnikov, B X, Zhu, and S, Zimmermann

Abstract

The Majorana Collaboration is operating an array of high purity Ge detectors to search for neutrinoless double-β decay in ^{76}Ge. The Majorana Demonstrator comprises 44.1 kg of Ge detectors (29.7 kg enriched in ^{76}Ge) split between two modules contained in a low background shield at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, South Dakota. Here we present results from data taken during construction, commissioning, and the start of full operations. We achieve unprecedented energy resolution of 2.5 keV FWHM at Q_{ββ} and a very low background with no observed candidate events in 9.95 kg yr of enriched Ge exposure, resulting in a lower limit on the half-life of 1.9×10^{25} yr (90% C.L.). This result constrains the effective Majorana neutrino mass to below 240-520 meV, depending on the matrix elements used. In our experimental configuration with the lowest background, the background is 4.0_{-2.5}^{+3.1} counts/(FWHM t yr).

Published
2018

5. The processing of enriched germanium for the Majorana Demonstrator and R&D for a next generation double-beta decay experiment

Author

Ralph Massarczyk, G. K. Giovanetti, C. Wiseman, C. R. Haufe, S. Vasilyev, J. F. Wilkerson, F. E. Bertrand, Kai Vetter, N. Abgrall, I. S. Guinn, A. S. Barabash, I. Zhitnikov, Matthew Busch, D. C. Radford, M. P. Green, B. Shanks, V. E. Guiseppe, W. Xu, H. Ejiri, S. J. Meijer, J. Myslik, J. Caja, C. Dunagan, J. Rager, B. R. Jasinski, A. L. Reine, S. I. Konovalov, Yu. Efremenko, L.M. Toth, J. Gruszko, F. T. Avignone, C.M. O'Shaughnessy, R. L. Varner, C. D. Christofferson, C.-H. Yu, Reyco Henning, Keith Rielage, T. Gilliss, J. Goett, A. M. Lopez, V. Yumatov, J.H. Meyer, C. Cuesta, S. R. Elliott, R. D. Martin, A. W. Bradley, Eric W. Hoppe, K. Vorren, V.B. Brudanin, E. Yakushev, R. G. H. Robertson, T. S. Caldwell, M. Shirchenko, D. J. Tedeschi, M. Caja, Susanne Mertens, M. F. Kidd, B. X. Zhu, I. J. Arnquist, Alan Poon, Anne-Marie Suriano, J. A. Detwiler, J.A. Reising, J. E. Trimble, Pinghan Chu, D.T. Dunstan, B. R. White, J. MacMullin, M. Buuck, and Richard T. Kouzes

Subjects
Physics, Nuclear and High Energy Physics, Isotopes of germanium, 010308 nuclear & particles physics, Detector, chemistry.chemical_element, Germanium, 7. Clean energy, 01 natural sciences, Particle detector, Semiconductor detector, ddc, Nuclear physics, MAJORANA, chemistry, Double beta decay, 0103 physical sciences, 010306 general physics, Instrumentation, Radioactive decay
Abstract

The Majorana Demonstrator is an array of point-contact Ge detectors fabricated from Ge isotopically enriched to 88% in 76 Ge to search for neutrinoless double beta decay. The processing of Ge for germanium detectors is a well-known technology. However, because of the high cost of Ge enriched in 76 Ge special procedures were required to maximize the yield of detector mass and to minimize exposure to cosmic rays. These procedures include careful accounting for the material; shielding it to reduce cosmogenic generation of radioactive isotopes; and development of special reprocessing techniques for contaminated solid germanium, shavings, grindings, acid etchant and cutting fluids from detector fabrication. Processing procedures were developed that resulted in a total yield in detector mass of 70%. However, none of the acid-etch solution and only 50% of the cutting fluids from detector fabrication were reprocessed. Had they been processed, the projections for the recovery yield would be between 80% and 85%. Maximizing yield is critical to justify a possible future ton-scale experiment. A process for recovery of germanium from the acid-etch solution was developed with yield of about 90%. All material was shielded or stored underground whenever possible to minimize the formation of 68 Ge by cosmic rays, which contributes background in the double-beta decay region of interest and cannot be removed by zone refinement and crystal growth. Formation of 68 Ge was reduced by a significant factor over that in natural abundance detectors not protected from cosmic rays.

Published
2018

6. Background Model for the Majorana Demonstrator

Author

S. R. Elliott, N. Snyder, M. F. Kidd, Yuen-Dat Chan, A. Hegai, M. A. Howe, A. W. P. Poon, Nicole R. Overman, A. S. Caldwell, C.-H. Yu, Yuri Efremenko, V. V. Timkin, M. P. Green, J. Gruszko, J. F. Wilkerson, S. J. Meijer, C.M. O'Shaughnessy, Jeffrey K. Thompson, J. Goett, B. Shanks, P. Finnerty, V. E. Guiseppe, K. Pushkin, B. R. White, H. Ejiri, Masaharu Nomachi, A. Galindo-Uribarri, Keith Rielage, Richard T. Kouzes, S. Vasilyev, J. Rager, Matthew Busch, O.I. Kochetov, Jonathan D. Leon, A. L. Hallin, N. Abgrall, D. Byram, J. E. Trimble, D. C. Combs, K. N. Gusev, W. Xu, D. C. Radford, Tatsushi Shima, R. D. Martin, V. Egorov, C. Wiseman, R. G. H. Robertson, Alexis G. Schubert, Eric W. Hoppe, L. E. Leviner, F. M. Fraenkle, Kai Vetter, G. K. Giovanetti, K. Vorren, J. MacMullin, Ryuta Hazama, J. C. Loach, C. D. Christofferson, Werner Tornow, E. Aguayo, Vladimir Yumatov, Stanley M. Howard, A. R. Young, Susanne Mertens, A. S. Barabash, S. MacMullin, P. J. Doe, F. E. Bertrand, M. Boswell, K. J. Keeter, V.B. Brudanin, F. T. Avignone, R. L. Varner, M. Shirchenko, Reyco Henning, John L. Orrell, Brian D. LaFerriere, E. Romero-Romero, D. G. Phillips, James E. Fast, C. Cuesta, E. Yakushev, M. C. Ronquest, S. I. Konovalov, K. J. Snavely, Anne-Marie Suriano, and J. A. Detwiler

Subjects
Physics, majorana, business.industry, Physics and Astronomy(all), germanium detector, neutrinoless double beta decay, Semiconductor detector, Reduction (complexity), Point contact, MAJORANA, Double beta decay, Pulse shape analysis, Aerospace engineering, Neutrino, Hpge detector, business
Abstract

The Majorana Collaboration is constructing a system containing 40kg of HPGe detectors to demonstrate the feasibility and potential of a future tonne-scale experiment capable of probing the neutrino mass scale in the inverted-hierarchy region. To realize this, a major goal of the Majorana Demonstrator is to demonstrate a path forward to achieving a background rate at or below 1 cnt/(ROI-t-y) in the 4 keV region of interest around the Q-value at 2039 keV. This goal is pursued through a combination of a significant reduction of radioactive impurities in construction materials with analytical methods for background rejection, for example using powerful pulse shape analysis techniques profiting from the p-type point contact HPGe detectors technology. The effectiveness of these methods is assessed using simulations of the different background components whose purity levels are constrained from radioassay measurements.

Published
2015
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7. The Majorana Low-noise Low-background Front-end Electronics

Author

L. E. Leviner, Yuen-Dat Chan, E. Aguayo, D. C. Radford, W. Xu, Eric W. Hoppe, Masaharu Nomachi, A. Hegai, C.M. O'Shaughnessy, M. A. Howe, Matthew Busch, K. J. Snavely, J. E. Trimble, Nicole R. Overman, O.I. Kochetov, J. Rager, D. Byram, K. Pushkin, J. MacMullin, P. J. Doe, A. S. Caldwell, J. Goett, S. MacMullin, D. C. Combs, S. R. Elliott, Kai Vetter, C.-H. Yu, C. D. Christofferson, B. Shanks, Keith Rielage, V. E. Guiseppe, K. J. Keeter, C. Wiseman, J. Gruszko, V. V. Timkin, V. G. Egorov, V.B. Brudanin, M. Shirchenko, K. Vorren, Ryuta Hazama, John L. Orrell, Alexis G. Schubert, M. P. Green, F. E. Bertrand, H. Ejiri, M. Boswell, Jeffrey K. Thompson, J. F. Wilkerson, Vladimir Yumatov, R. D. Martin, Stanley M. Howard, A. R. Young, P. Finnerty, Yu. Efremenko, K. N. Gusev, E. Romero-Romero, B. R. White, R. G. H. Robertson, M. C. Ronquest, D. G. Phillips, F. T. Avignone, R. L. Varner, Brian D. LaFerriere, Werner Tornow, F. M. Fraenkle, Reyco Henning, M. F. Kidd, James E. Fast, Jonathan D. Leon, C. Cuesta, A. S. Barabash, Richard T. Kouzes, S. I. Konovalov, Alan Poon, Anne-Marie Suriano, J. A. Detwiler, E. Yakushev, N. Snyder, Susanne Mertens, A. Galindo-Uribarri, S. J. Meijer, S. Vasilyev, A. L. Hallin, N. Abgrall, Tatsushi Shima, G. K. Giovanetti, and J. C. Loach

Subjects
Physics, business.industry, Detector, chemistry.chemical_element, Germanium, Substrate (electronics), Physics and Astronomy(all), Noise (electronics), Capacitance, neutrinoless double beta decay, law.invention, Nuclear physics, MAJORANA, low noise, chemistry, law, Double beta decay, low background, Optoelectronics, charge sensitive amplifer, Resistor, business, resistive-feedback front-end
Abstract

The MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR will search for the neutrinoless double beta decay (ββ(0ν)) of the isotope 76Ge with a mixed array of enriched and natural germanium detectors. In view of the next generation of tonne-scale germanium-based ββ(0ν)-decay searches, a major goal of the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR is to demonstrate a path forward to achieving a background rate at or below 1 cnt/(ROI-t-y) in the 4 keV region of interest (ROI) around the 2039-keV Q-value of the 76Ge ββ(0ν)-decay. Such a requirement on the background level significantly constrains the design of the readout electronics, which is further driven by noise and energy resolution performances. We present here the low-noise low- background front-end electronics developed for the low-capacitance p-type point contact (P-PC) germanium detectors of the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR. This resistive-feedback front-end, specifically designed to have low mass, is fabricated on a radioassayed fused-silica substrate where the feedback resistor consists of a sputtered thin film of high purity amorphous germanium and the feedback capacitor is based on the capacitance between gold conductive traces.

Published
2015
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8. Testing the Ge Detectors for the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR

Author

D. C. Radford, Yu. Efremenko, R. D. Martin, E. Romero-Romero, R. G. H. Robertson, D. G. Phillips, Reyco Henning, James E. Fast, V. Egorov, Nicole R. Overman, G. K. Giovanetti, P. J. Doe, C. Cuesta, D. Byram, M. Shirchenko, Brian D. LaFerriere, John L. Orrell, J. Rager, C. Wiseman, Albert Young, B. Shanks, V. E. Guiseppe, J. MacMullin, W. Xu, Keith Rielage, Eric W. Hoppe, Alexis G. Schubert, J. Gruszko, N. Snyder, A. Hegai, V. Brudanin, S. MacMullin, Anne-Marie Suriano, Y-D. Chan, K. Pushkin, M. A. Howe, K. J. Snavely, K. N. Gusev, M. Boswell, A. W. P. Poon, Susanne Mertens, E. Yakushev, Richard T. Kouzes, K. Vorren, Kai Vetter, L. E. Leviner, F. E. Bertrand, C. D. Christofferson, M. F. Kidd, O.I. Kochetov, Stanley M. Howard, Masaharu Nomachi, M. P. Green, J. C. Loach, V. V. Timkin, J. A. Detwiler, M. Busch, Jeffrey K. Thompson, Ryuta Hazama, F. T. Avignone, Jonathan D. Leon, E. Aguayo, J. E. Trimble, S. J. Meijer, R. L. Varner, J. Goett, K. J. Keeter, Werner Tornow, M. C. Ronquest, S. I. Konovalov, Chang-Hong Yu, A. S. Caldwell, C.M. O'Shaughnessy, V. Yumatov, A. Galindo-Uribarri, S. Vasilyev, A. L. Hallin, N. Abgrall, Tatsushi Shima, A. S. Barabash, H. Ejiri, Steven Elliott, D. C. Combs, J. F. Wilkerson, P. Finnerty, B. R. White, and F. M. Fraenkle

Subjects
Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors, majorana, FOS: Physical sciences, chemistry.chemical_element, Germanium, Physics and Astronomy(all), germanium detector, Capacitance, neutrinoless double beta decay, Crystal, Nuclear physics, Double beta decay, Nuclear Experiment (nucl-ex), Nuclear Experiment, Physics, business.industry, Detector, Instrumentation and Detectors (physics.ins-det), Semiconductor detector, Characterization (materials science), MAJORANA, chemistry, Optoelectronics, High Energy Physics::Experiment, business
Abstract

High purity germanium (HPGe) crystals will be used for the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR, where they serve as both the source and the detector for neutrinoless double beta decay. It is crucial for the experiment to understand the performance of the HPGe crystals. A variety of crystal properties are being investigated, including basic properties such as energy resolution, efficiency, uniformity, capacitance, leakage current and crystal axis orientation, as well as more sophisticated properties, e.g. pulse shapes and dead layer and transition layer distributions. In this paper, we will present our measurements that characterize the HPGe crystals. We will also discuss our simulation package for the detector characterization setup, and show that additional information can be extracted from data-simulation comparisons., Comment: To appear in the Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Topics in Astroparticle and Underground Physics, TAUP 2013 (F. Avignone & W. Haxton, editors, Physics Procedia, Elsevier)

Published
2015
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9. Status of the Majorana Demonstrator

Author

B. R. Jasinski, Jonathan D. Leon, M. Buuck, K. Vorren, C.-H. Yu, V. V. Timkin, J. MacMullin, C. Schmitt, R. D. Martin, I. J. Arnquist, N. Snyder, M. F. Kidd, J. Gruszko, C.M. O'Shaughnessy, A. S. Barabash, Yuen-Dat Chan, R. G. H. Robertson, Eric W. Hoppe, M. Shirchenko, A. W. P. Poon, G. K. Giovanetti, John L. Orrell, F. E. Bertrand, A. Galindo-Uribarri, J. Goett, Nicole R. Overman, M. A. Howe, I. S. Guinn, S. I. Konovalov, S. J. Meijer, S. Vasilyev, Anne-Marie Suriano, Keith Rielage, J. A. Detwiler, B. Shanks, V. E. Guiseppe, K. J. Keeter, V.B. Brudanin, W. Xu, Brian D. LaFerriere, N. Abgrall, D. Byram, C. Wiseman, E. Yakushev, S. R. Elliott, Yuri Efremenko, D. C. Radford, Susanne Mertens, C. D. Christofferson, Vladimir Yumatov, Stanley M. Howard, J. E. Trimble, F. T. Avignone, R. L. Varner, Reyco Henning, D. Tedeschi, J. Rager, A. S. Caldwell, J. F. Wilkerson, Matthew Busch, B. R. White, M. P. Green, E. Romero-Romero, H. Ejiri, C. Cuesta, Richard T. Kouzes, and Kai Vetter

Subjects
Physics, Nuclear and High Energy Physics, Particle physics, Physics::Instrumentation and Detectors, business.industry, Modular design, Semiconductor detector, Nuclear physics, MAJORANA, Double beta decay, High Energy Physics::Experiment, Mass scale, Neutrino, Detector array, Nuclear Experiment, business
Abstract

The Majorana Collaboration is constructing the Majorana Demonstrator , an ultra-low background, 40-kg modular high purity Ge detector array to search for neutrinoless double-beta decay in 76Ge. In view of the next generation of tonne-scale Ge-based neutrinoless double-beta decay searches that will probe the neutrino mass scale in the inverted-hierarchy region, a major goal of the Demonstrator is to demonstrate a path forward to achieving a background rate at or below 1 count/tonne/year in the 4 keV region of interest around the Q-value at 2039 keV. The current status of the Demonstrator is discussed, as are plans for its completion.

Published
2015
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10. Search for Pauli exclusion principle violating atomic transitions and electron decay with a p-type point contact germanium detector

Author

Kai Vetter, C. D. Christofferson, M. F. Kidd, A. S. Caldwell, B. R. Jasinski, Reyco Henning, Jonathan D. Leon, C.M. O'Shaughnessy, A. S. Barabash, F. E. Bertrand, J. MacMullin, M. A. Howe, A. W. Bradley, Susanne Mertens, I. S. Guinn, J. Goett, E. Yakushev, T. Gilliss, M. Shirchenko, V. Yumatov, Yu. Efremenko, K. Vorren, John L. Orrell, Ralph Massarczyk, A. Galindo-Uribarri, J. Rager, I. Zhitnikov, V.B. Brudanin, C. Wiseman, H. Ejiri, Steven Elliott, R. D. Martin, W. Xu, Richard T. Kouzes, D. C. Radford, J. E. Trimble, Keith Rielage, R. L. Varner, E. Romero-Romero, M. P. Green, Pinghan Chu, Y-D. Chan, Anne-Marie Suriano, Eric W. Hoppe, S. I. Konovalov, S. Vasilyev, K. J. Keeter, R. G. H. Robertson, C. Cuesta, S. J. Meijer, D. Tedeschi, N. Abgrall, M. Buuck, Chang-Hong Yu, Stanley M. Howard, G. K. Giovanetti, J. F. Wilkerson, P. Finnerty, M. Busch, B. R. White, Brian D. LaFerriere, F. T. Avignone, B. Shanks, V. E. Guiseppe, J. Gruszko, J. A. Detwiler, C. Dunagan, I. J. Arnquist, and A. W. P. Poon

Subjects
Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors, Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous), FOS: Physical sciences, Electron, nucl-ex, Atomic, 01 natural sciences, Nuclear physics, symbols.namesake, Particle and Plasma Physics, Pauli exclusion principle, 0103 physical sciences, Nuclear, Nuclear Experiment (nucl-ex), 010306 general physics, physics.ins-det, Nuclear Experiment, Engineering (miscellaneous), Physics, Quantum Physics, Auger effect, 010308 nuclear & particles physics, Detector, Molecular, Instrumentation and Detectors (physics.ins-det), Nuclear & Particles Physics, Semiconductor detector, MAJORANA, Atomic electron transition, symbols, Neutrino
Abstract

A search for Pauli-exclusion-principle-violating K-alpha electron transitions was performed using 89.5 kg-d of data collected with a p-type point contact high-purity germanium detector operated at the Kimballton Underground Research Facility. A lower limit on the transition lifetime of 5.8x10^30 seconds at 90% C.L. was set by looking for a peak at 10.6 keV resulting from the x-ray and Auger electrons present following the transition. A similar analysis was done to look for the decay of atomic K-shell electrons into neutrinos, resulting in a lower limit of 6.8x10^30 seconds at 90 C.L. It is estimated that the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR, a 44 kg array of p-type point contact detectors that will search for the neutrinoless double-beta decay of 76-Ge, could improve upon these exclusion limits by an order of magnitude after three years of operation. Abgrall, N; Arnquist, I J; Avignone, F T; Barabash, A S; Bertrand, F E; Bradley, A W; Brudanin, V; Busch, M; Buuck, M; Caldwell, A S; Chan, Y-D; Christofferson, C D; Chu, P -H; Cuesta, C; Detwiler, J A; Dunagan, C; Efremenko, Yu; Ejiri, H; Elliott, S R; Finnerty, P S; Galindo-Uribarri, A; Gilliss, T; Giovanetti, G K; Goett, J; Green, M P; Gruszko, J; Guinn, I S; Guiseppe, V E; Henning, R; Hoppe, E W; Howard, S; Howe, M A; Jasinski, B R; Keeter, K J; Kidd, M F; Konovalov, S I; Kouzes, R T; LaFerriere, B D; Leon, J; MacMullin, J; Martin, R D; Massarczyk, R; Meijer, S J; Mertens, S; Orrell, J L; O'Shaughnessy, C; Poon, A W P; Radford, D C; Rager, J; Rielage, K; Robertson, R G H; Romero-Romero, E; Shanks, B; Shirchenko, M; Suriano, A M; Tedeschi, D; Trimble, J E; Varner, R L; Vasilyev, S; Vetter, K; Vorren, K; White, B R; Wilkerson, J F; Wiseman, C; Xu, W; Yakushev, E; Yu, C -H; Yumatov, V; Zhitnikov, I

Published
2016
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11. The Majorana Demonstrator radioassay program

Author

T. Gilliss, M. L. Miller, C. D. Christofferson, J. Goett, R. D. Martin, N. Abgrall, Ralph Massarczyk, A. Galindo-Uribarri, J. Gruszko, A. S. Caldwell, R. G. H. Robertson, Stanley M. Howard, M. P. Green, Nicole R. Overman, W. Xu, Kai Vetter, H. Ejiri, S. Meijer, C.-H. Yu, B. R. Jasinski, Anne-Marie Suriano, J. A. Detwiler, J. E. Trimble, V. E. Guiseppe, V. M. Gehman, F. T. Avignone, B. Shanks, R. L. Varner, K. Vorren, I. S. Guinn, Reyco Henning, D. C. Radford, O.I. Kochetov, K. J. Snavely, Eric W. Hoppe, R. A. Johnson, M. F. Kidd, Keith Rielage, Yuen-Dat Chan, A. W. Bradley, S. Vasilyev, D. Byram, M. Buuck, S. I. Konovalov, Henning O. Back, G. K. Giovanetti, K. Pushkin, I. Zhitnikov, Matthew Busch, M. A. Howe, J. F. Wilkerson, J. C. Loach, Pinghan Chu, D. J. Tedeschi, Richard T. Kouzes, A. S. Barabash, Jonathan D. Leon, S. MacMullin, P. Finnerty, B. R. White, C. Wiseman, K. J. Keeter, V.B. Brudanin, J. Rager, J. MacMullin, Alexis G. Schubert, V. Yumatov, C. O'Shaughnessy, S. R. Elliott, J. A. Dunmore, E. Yakushev, Susanne Mertens, M. C. Ronquest, E. Romero-Romero, Yu. Efremenko, C. Cuesta, Brian D. LaFerriere, M. Shirchenko, John L. Orrell, F. E. Bertrand, M. Boswell, D. Steele, I. J. Arnquist, N. Snyder, and A. W. P. Poon

Subjects
Nuclear and High Energy Physics, Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors, FOS: Physical sciences, Context (language use), Radiopurity, nucl-ex, 7. Clean energy, 01 natural sciences, Atomic, High Energy Physics - Experiment, Nuclear physics, High Energy Physics - Experiment (hep-ex), Mass spectroscopy, Particle and Plasma Physics, Germanium counting, Double beta decay, 0103 physical sciences, Nuclear, Nuclear Experiment (nucl-ex), Neutron activation analysis, 010306 general physics, Nuclear Experiment, Instrumentation, physics.ins-det, Low background, Physics, MAJORANA, Mass spectrometry, 010308 nuclear & particles physics, hep-ex, Detector, Molecular, Trace analysis, Instrumentation and Detectors (physics.ins-det), Nuclear & Particles Physics, Semiconductor detector, Other Physical Sciences, Astronomical and Space Sciences, Neutron activation
Abstract

The MAJORANA collaboration is constructing the MAJORANA DEMONSTATOR at the Sanford Underground Research Facility at the Homestake gold mine, in Lead, SD. The apparatus will use Ge detectors, enriched in isotope \nuc{76}{Ge}, to demonstrate the feasibility of a large-scale Ge detector experiment to search for neutrinoless double beta decay. The long half-life of this postulated process requires that the apparatus be extremely low in radioactive isotopes whose decays may produce backgrounds to the search. The radioassay program conducted by the collaboration to ensure that the materials comprising the apparatus are sufficiently pure is described. The resulting measurements of the radioactive-isotope contamination for a number of materials studied for use in the detector are reported., to be submitted to NIM

Published
2016

12. Muon Flux Measurements at the Davis Campus of the Sanford Underground Research Facility with the Majorana Demonstrator Veto System

Author

Jonathan D. Leon, C. Schmitt, J. Gruszko, T. Gilliss, A. S. Barabash, I. S. Guinn, R. D. Martin, B. R. Jasinski, Keith Rielage, W. Xu, E. Aguayo, Brian D. LaFerriere, R. G. H. Robertson, J. MacMullin, Yu. Efremenko, C. Wiseman, M. P. Green, V. Yumatov, D. Byram, C. Dunagan, C.-H. Yu, E. Romero-Romero, A. W. Bradley, S. R. Elliott, H. Ejiri, J. F. Wilkerson, Ralph Massarczyk, A. Galindo-Uribarri, M. F. Kidd, Nicole R. Overman, D. J. Tedeschi, B. R. White, C. Cuesta, Yuen-Dat Chan, S. Vasilyev, N. Abgrall, J. Goett, Eric W. Hoppe, M. Shirchenko, I. Zhitnikov, Matthew Busch, John L. Orrell, B. Shanks, K. J. Keeter, V.B. Brudanin, V. E. Guiseppe, K. Vorren, J. E. Trimble, Susanne Mertens, Kai Vetter, Pinghan Chu, C.M. O'Shaughnessy, C. D. Christofferson, F. E. Bertrand, F. T. Avignone, M. A. Howe, R. L. Varner, J. Rager, Reyco Henning, D. C. Radford, A. M. Lopez, A. S. Caldwell, S. I. Konovalov, G. K. Giovanetti, Richard T. Kouzes, Stanley M. Howard, S. J. Meijer, M. Buuck, E. Yakushev, M. C. Ronquest, Alan Poon, Anne-Marie Suriano, J. A. Detwiler, and N. Snyder

Subjects
Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors, Ray, Veto, Flux, FOS: Physical sciences, nucl-ex, 01 natural sciences, Atomic, High Energy Physics - Experiment, Nuclear physics, High Energy Physics - Experiment (hep-ex), Particle and Plasma Physics, 0103 physical sciences, Nuclear, Nuclear Experiment (nucl-ex), 010306 general physics, physics.ins-det, Nuclear Experiment, Physics, Muon, 010308 nuclear & particles physics, hep-ex, Molecular, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Instrumentation and Detectors (physics.ins-det), Nuclear & Particles Physics, MAJORANA, Muon flux, Cosmic, Astronomical and Space Sciences
Abstract

We report the first measurement of the total MUON flux underground at the Davis Campus of the Sanford Underground Research Facility at the 4850 ft level. Measurements were done with the Majorana Demonstrator veto system arranged in two different configurations. The measured total flux is (5.31+/-0.17) x 10^-9 muons/s/cm^2., 15 pages, 7 figures

Published
2016
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13. New limits on Bosonic Dark Matter, Solar Axions, Pauli Exclusion Principle Violation, and Electron Decay from the Majorana Demonstrator

Author

M. P. Green, H. Ejiri, W. Xu, Eric W. Hoppe, J. Goett, Kai Vetter, M. Shirchenko, C. R. Haufe, C. D. Christofferson, D. C. Radford, I. Zhitnikov, Matthew Busch, Keith Rielage, T. Gilliss, K. Vorren, I. J. Arnquist, I. S. Guinn, Richard T. Kouzes, R. D. Martin, C. Dunagan, C.-H. Yu, Yu. Efremenko, Stanley M. Howard, J. Rager, A. S. Barabash, R. G. H. Robertson, T. S. Caldwell, A. L. Reine, C. Cuesta, S. I. Konovalov, C. Wiseman, G. K. Giovanetti, D. J. Tedeschi, B. Shanks, V. E. Guiseppe, B. R. White, V. Yumatov, E. Yakushev, J. F. Wilkerson, Yuen-Dat Chan, S. R. Elliott, M. F. Kidd, B. X. Zhu, F. E. Bertrand, M. A. Howe, C.M. O'Shaughnessy, Alan Poon, Anne-Marie Suriano, J. A. Detwiler, J. MacMullin, J. Gruszko, J. E. Trimble, Pinghan Chu, M. Buuck, S. J. Meijer, Susanne Mertens, K. J. Keeter, V.B. Brudanin, F. T. Avignone, R. L. Varner, Reyco Henning, A. M. Lopez, B. R. Jasinski, A. W. Bradley, Ralph Massarczyk, S. Vasilyev, and N. Abgrall

Subjects
Physics, Particle physics, Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors, 010308 nuclear & particles physics, Dark matter, High Energy Physics::Phenomenology, General Physics and Astronomy, FOS: Physical sciences, Electron, Instrumentation and Detectors (physics.ins-det), 01 natural sciences, Vector boson, Pseudoscalar, Nuclear physics, symbols.namesake, MAJORANA, Pauli exclusion principle, WIMP, 0103 physical sciences, symbols, Nuclear Experiment (nucl-ex), 010306 general physics, Nuclear Experiment, Axion
Abstract

We present new limits on exotic keV-scale physics based on 478 kg d of MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR commissioning data. Constraints at the 90% confidence level are derived on bosonic dark matter (DM) and solar axion couplings, Pauli exclusion principle violating (PEPV) decay, and electron decay using monoenergetic peak signal-limits above our background. Our most stringent DM constraints are set for 11.8 keV mass particles, limiting $g_{Ae} 1.2 \times 10^{24}\;$yr for $e^- \rightarrow$ invisible.

Published
2016
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14. Status of the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR: A Search for Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay

Author

Kai Vetter, G. K. Giovanetti, Brian D. LaFerriere, M. P. Green, J. Rager, I. S. Guinn, Howe, D. Byram, V. B. Brudanin, H. Ejiri, Alan Poon, Anne-Marie Suriano, J. A. Detwiler, Yuen-Dat Chan, T. Gilliss, A. S. Barabash, B. R. Jasinski, J. F. Wilkerson, F. E. Bertrand, R. D. Martin, E. Yakushev, I. J. Arnquist, N. Snyder, E. Romero-Romero, R. G. H. Robertson, Keith Rielage, Richard T. Kouzes, B. R. White, S. J. Meijer, C. D. Christofferson, M. F. Kidd, W. Xu, C. O'Shaughnessy, J. E. Trimble, Vladimir Yumatov, Stanley M. Howard, J. Gruszko, B. Shanks, V. E. Guiseppe, S. Mertens, C. Wiseman, M. Buuck, A. W. Bradley, F. T. Avignone, C. X. Baldenegro-Barrera, R. L. Varner, Eric W. Hoppe, Jonathan D. Leon, C.-H. Yu, A. Galindo-Uribarri, Reyco Henning, S. Vasilyev, D. J. Tedeschi, N. Abgrall, J. MacMullin, C. Cuesta, K. Vorren, M. Shirchenko, John L. Orrell, K. J. Keeter, I. Zhitnikov, Matthew Busch, A. S. Caldwell, J. Goett, S. I. Konovalov, Yu. Efremenko, S. R. Elliott, and D. C. Radford

Subjects
Physics, MAJORANA, Particle physics, Double beta decay
Published
2015
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15. Analysis techniques for background rejection at the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR

Author

J. Gruszko, I. S. Guinn, M. Shirchenko, J. E. Trimble, A. S. Caldwell, John L. Orrell, C. X. Baldenegro-Barrera, G. K. Giovanetti, J. Rager, Kai Vetter, Chang-Hong Yu, H. Ejiri, Steven Elliott, C. D. Christofferson, M. F. Kidd, A. Galindo-Uribarri, D. Byram, J. A. Detwiler, C. Wiseman, Stanley M. Howard, R. L. Varner, S. Vasilyev, B. Shanks, V. E. Guiseppe, T. Gilliss, F. E. Bertrand, D. C. Radford, Brian D. LaFerriere, R. D. Martin, C.M. O'Shaughnessy, Keith Rielage, N. Abgrall, S. J. Meijer, B. R. Jasinski, M. Buuck, R. G. H. Robertson, K. J. Keeter, D. Tedeschi, A. S. Barabash, I. Zhitnikov, M. Busch, Richard T. Kouzes, J. F. Wilkerson, V. Yumatov, E. Romero-Romero, Yu. Efremenko, F. T. Avignone, A. W. Bradley, M. P. Green, I. J. Arnquist, N. Snyder, B. R. White, W. Xu, K. Vorren, C. Cuesta, A. W. P. Poon, J. MacMullin, S. I. Konovalov, Y-D. Chan, Susanne Mertens, Jonathan D. Leon, E. Yakushev, Anne-Marie Suriano, Eric W. Hoppe, J. Goett, Reyco Henning, V.B. Brudanin, and M. A. Howe

Subjects
Physics, Particle physics, Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors, Physics::Instrumentation and Detectors, business.industry, Detector, FOS: Physical sciences, Instrumentation and Detectors (physics.ins-det), Modular design, Reduction (complexity), MAJORANA, Double beta decay, Neutrino, business, Event (particle physics), Data reduction
Abstract

The MAJORANA Collaboration is constructing the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR, an ultra-low background, 40-kg modular HPGe detector array to search for neutrinoless double beta decay in 76Ge. In view of the next generation of tonne-scale Ge-based 0nbb-decay searches that will probe the neutrino mass scale in the inverted-hierarchy region, a major goal of the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR is to demonstrate a path forward to achieving a background rate at or below 1 count/tonne/year in the 4 keV region of interest around the Q-value at 2039 keV. The background rejection techniques to be applied to the data include cuts based on data reduction, pulse shape analysis, event coincidences, and time correlations. The Point Contact design of the DEMONSTRATOR 0s germanium detectors allows for significant reduction of gamma background., 4 pages, 2 figures

Published
2015
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16. The Majorana Demonstrator: A Search for Neutrinoless Double-beta Decay of 76Ge

Author

F. T. Avignone, R. L. Varner, Reyco Henning, C. Wiseman, A. S. Caldwell, J. Gruszko, K. Vorren, K. J. Keeter, C.-H. Yu, M. P. Green, D. C. Radford, M. C. Ronquest, J. MacMullin, Yuen-Dat Chan, Susanne Mertens, Brian D. LaFerriere, H. Ejiri, Yu. Efremenko, R. D. Martin, D. J. Tedeschi, E. Romero-Romero, J. E. Trimble, S. I. Konovalov, Eric W. Hoppe, Vladimir Yumatov, Stanley M. Howard, S. J. Meijer, M. A. Howe, M. F. Kidd, Matthew Busch, C. Cuesta, J. Goett, R. G. H. Robertson, E. Yakushev, M. Shirchenko, John L. Orrell, V. B. Brudanin, C. D. Christofferson, G. K. Giovanetti, M. Buuck, N. Snyder, Nicole R. Overman, F. E. Bertrand, Keith Rielage, Alan Poon, Anne-Marie Suriano, J. A. Detwiler, B. Shanks, V. E. Guiseppe, A. S. Barabash, B. R. Jasinski, J. F. Wilkerson, B. R. White, A. Galindo-Uribarri, J. Rager, S. Vasilyev, W. Xu, N. Abgrall, S. R. Elliott, C.M. O'Shaughnessy, Richard T. Kouzes, Kai Vetter, D. Byram, I. S. Guinn, and Jonathan D. Leon

Subjects
Physics, History, Antiparticle, Particle physics, Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors, High Energy Physics::Phenomenology, FOS: Physical sciences, Fermion, Electron, Instrumentation and Detectors (physics.ins-det), Lepton number, Computer Science Applications, Education, MAJORANA, Double beta decay, Neutron, High Energy Physics::Experiment, Neutrino, Nuclear Experiment (nucl-ex), Nuclear Experiment
Abstract

Neutrinoless double-beta decay is a hypothesized process where in some even-even nuclei it might be possible for two neutrons to simultaneously decay into two protons and two electrons without emitting neutrinos. This is possible only if neutrinos are Majorana particles, i.e. fermions that are their own antiparticles. Neutrinos being Majorana particles would explicitly violate lepton number conservation, and might play a role in the matter-antimatter asymmetry in the universe. The observation of neutrinoless double-beta decay would also provide complementary information related to neutrino masses. The Majorana Collaboration is constructing the Majorana Demonstrator, a 40-kg modular germanium detector array, to search for the Neutrinoless double-beta decay of 76Ge and to demonstrate a background rate at or below 3 counts/(ROI-t-y) in the 4 keV region of interest (ROI) around the 2039 keV Q-value for 76Ge Neutrinoless double-beta decay. In this paper, we discuss the physics of neutrinoless double beta decay and then focus on the Majorana Demonstrator, including its design and approach to achieve ultra-low backgrounds and the status of the experiment., Comment: Published Version. 10 pages, 6 figures, proceedings for the 2nd Workshop on Germanium Detectors and Technologies, 14-17 September 2014, at the University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD

Published
2015
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17. MAJORANA Collaboration's Experience with Germanium Detectors

Author

A. Galindo-Uribarri, Yuen-Dat Chan, S. Vasilyev, Alan Poon, N. Abgrall, Anne-Marie Suriano, J. A. Detwiler, R. D. Martin, J. Gruszko, Yu. Efremenko, J. Goett, J. F. Wilkerson, R. G. H. Robertson, M. A. Howe, E. Romero-Romero, D. J. Tedeschi, C.M. O'Shaughnessy, B. R. White, Vladimir Yumatov, Stanley M. Howard, Jonathan D. Leon, V. B. Brudanin, I. S. Guinn, F. T. Avignone, R. L. Varner, B. R. Jasinski, M. P. Green, M. Buuck, C. Wiseman, Nicole R. Overman, Reyco Henning, Eric W. Hoppe, C. Cuesta, J. Rager, D. Byram, Matthew Busch, C.-H. Yu, H. Ejiri, A. S. Barabash, Susanne Mertens, K. J. Keeter, B. Shanks, V. E. Guiseppe, S. R. Elliott, Brian D. LaFerriere, D. C. Radford, A. S. Caldwell, Keith Rielage, M. Shirchenko, John L. Orrell, J. MacMullin, Kai Vetter, S. J. Meijer, C. D. Christofferson, F. E. Bertrand, K. Vorren, M. F. Kidd, E. Yakushev, W. Xu, G. K. Giovanetti, J. E. Trimble, Richard T. Kouzes, M. C. Ronquest, S. I. Konovalov, and N. Snyder

Subjects
Physics, History, Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors, Detector, chemistry.chemical_element, FOS: Physical sciences, Germanium, Instrumentation and Detectors (physics.ins-det), Engineering physics, Computer Science Applications, Education, Characterization (materials science), Point contact, MAJORANA, chemistry, Germanium crystal, Nuclear Experiment (nucl-ex), Nuclear Experiment
Abstract

The goal of the \textsc{Majorana} \textsc{Demonstrator} project is to search for 0$\nu\beta\beta$ decay in $^{76}\mathrm{Ge}$. Of all candidate isotopes for 0$\nu\beta\beta$, $^{76}\mathrm{Ge}$ has some of the most favorable characteristics. Germanium detectors are a well established technology, and in searches for 0$\nu\beta\beta$, the high purity germanium crystal acts simultaneously as source and detector. Furthermore, p-type germanium detectors provide excellent energy resolution and a specially designed point contact geometry allows for sensitive pulse shape discrimination. This paper will summarize the experiences the \textsc{Majorana} collaboration made with enriched germanium detectors manufactured by ORTEC$^{\circledR}$. The process from production, to characterization and integration in \textsc{Majorana} mounting structure will be described. A summary of the performance of all enriched germanium detectors will be given., Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures

Published
2015
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18. Low background signal readout electronics for the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR

Author

I. J. Arnquist, N. Snyder, T. Gilliss, R. D. Martin, M. Shirchenko, John L. Orrell, R. G. H. Robertson, Eric W. Hoppe, J. MacMullin, C. D. Christofferson, Brian D. LaFerriere, F. T. Avignone, R. L. Varner, Reyco Henning, M. F. Kidd, C. X. Baldenegro-Barrera, D. J. Tedeschi, W. Xu, J. Goett, A. Galindo-Uribarri, B. Shanks, E. Romero-Romero, V. E. Guiseppe, C.-H. Yu, S. Vasilyev, D. C. Radford, C. Wiseman, N. Abgrall, C. Cuesta, Keith Rielage, M. Buuck, K. J. Keeter, J. E. Trimble, Yuen-Dat Chan, B. R. Jasinski, J. F. Wilkerson, V. B. Brudanin, F. E. Bertrand, A. W. Bradley, S. I. Konovalov, M. A. Howe, Alan Poon, Anne-Marie Suriano, J. A. Detwiler, B. R. White, C. O'Shaughnessy, Vladimir Yumatov, Stanley M. Howard, J. Rager, Yu. Efremenko, S. R. Elliott, Richard T. Kouzes, Kai Vetter, Jonathan D. Leon, A. S. Barabash, I. S. Guinn, J. Gruszko, D. Byram, S. Mertens, M. P. Green, H. Ejiri, I. Zhitnikov, Matthew Busch, K. Vorren, A. S. Caldwell, G. K. Giovanetti, S. J. Meijer, and E. Yakushev

Subjects
Physics, Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors, Detector, FOS: Physical sciences, Readout electronics, Instrumentation and Detectors (physics.ins-det), Signal, Semiconductor detector, Nuclear physics, MAJORANA, Double beta decay, Nuclear Experiment (nucl-ex), Hpge detector, Nuclear Experiment, Scale down
Abstract

The MAJORANA Collaboration will seek neutrinoless double beta decay (0nbb) in 76Ge using isotopically enriched p-type point contact (PPC) high purity Germanium (HPGe) detectors. A tonne-scale array of HPGe detectors would require background levels below 1 count/ROI-tonne-year in the 4 keV region of interest (ROI) around the 2039 keV Q-value of the decay. In order to demonstrate the feasibility of such an experiment, the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR, a 40 kg HPGe detector array, is being constructed with a background goal of, 6 pages, 7 figures, 2 tables. LRT 2015 Proceedings

Published
2015
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19. A Dark Matter Search with MALBEK

Author

J. Gruszko, V. Egorov, M. Shirchenko, C.M. O'Shaughnessy, John L. Orrell, Albert Young, V. Yumatov, N. Snyder, R. D. Martin, J. F. Wilkerson, W. Xu, R. G. H. Robertson, P. Finnerty, J. MacMullin, Y-D. Chan, B. R. White, Anne-Marie Suriano, Nicole R. Overman, G. K. Giovanetti, Keith Rielage, A. Galindo-Uribarri, A. W. P. Poon, D. Byram, J. Rager, H. Ejiri, Steven Elliott, E. Romero-Romero, D. C. Combs, Stanley M. Howard, V. V. Timkin, D. G. Phillips, M. F. Kidd, K. J. Snavely, B. Shanks, M. C. Ronquest, V. E. Guiseppe, James E. Fast, V. Brudanin, O.I. Kochetov, C. Cuesta, S. Vasilyev, Yuri Efremenko, A. S. Caldwell, F. M. Fraenkle, S. I. Konovalov, A. L. Hallin, J. A. Detwiler, N. Abgrall, Jeffrey K. Thompson, K. N. Gusev, A. Hegai, M. A. Howe, Tatsushi Shima, D. C. Radford, M. P. Green, K. Pushkin, M. Busch, Richard T. Kouzes, F. T. Avignone, Chang-Hong Yu, Kai Vetter, C. D. Christofferson, Ryuta Hazama, F. E. Bertrand, Eric W. Hoppe, Masaharu Nomachi, J. E. Trimble, K. J. Keeter, P. J. Doe, L. E. Leviner, Jonathan D. Leon, E. Aguayo, J. Goett, Susanne Mertens, E. Yakushev, R. L. Varner, S. MacMullin, Reyco Henning, C. Wiseman, Alexis G. Schubert, M. Boswell, S. J. Meijer, K. Vorren, J. C. Loach, Brian D. LaFerriere, A. S. Barabash, and Werner Tornow

Subjects
Physics, Particle physics, Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors, majorana, Physics::Instrumentation and Detectors, Detector, Dark matter, Astrophysics::Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics, FOS: Physical sciences, Instrumentation and Detectors (physics.ins-det), Physics and Astronomy(all), germanium detector, neutrinoless double beta decay, High Energy Physics - Experiment, Semiconductor detector, MAJORANA, High Energy Physics - Experiment (hep-ex), WIMP, Double beta decay, Weakly interacting massive particles, High Energy Physics::Experiment, Nuclear Experiment (nucl-ex), Nuclear Experiment, Event (particle physics)
Abstract

The MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR is an array of natural and enriched high purity germanium detectors that will search for the neutrinoless double-beta decay of 76-Ge and perform a search for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) with masses below 10 GeV. As part of the MAJORANA research and development efforts, we have deployed a modified, low-background broad energy germanium detector at the Kimballton Underground Research Facility. With its sub-keV energy threshold, this detector is sensitive to potential non-Standard Model physics, including interactions with WIMPs. We discuss the backgrounds present in the WIMP region of interest and explore the impact of slow surface event contamination when searching for a WIMP signal., Comment: To appear in the Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Topics in Astroparticle and Underground Physics, TAUP 2013 (F. Avignone & W. Haxton, editors, Physics Procedia, Elsevier)

Published
2014
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20. Status of the Majorana Demonstrator experiment

Author

W. Xu, Yu. Efremenko, O.I. Kochetov, E. Romero-Romero, Yuen-Dat Chan, Matthew Busch, Eric W. Hoppe, Werner Tornow, D. G. Phillips, K. J. Snavely, J. Goett, Kai Vetter, R. D. Martin, James E. Fast, V. B. Brudanin, Alexis G. Schubert, Ryuta Hazama, A. Galindo-Uribarri, K. Pushkin, A. Hegai, A. S. Caldwell, Jeffrey K. Thompson, R. G. H. Robertson, C.M. O'Shaughnessy, J. Esterline, J. Gruszko, M. P. Green, M. A. Howe, K. N. Gusev, H. Ejiri, L. E. Leviner, M. Shirchenko, John L. Orrell, S. Vasilyev, F. T. Avignone, Keith Rielage, Nicole R. Overman, S. MacMullin, N. Snyder, R. L. Varner, Vladimir Yumatov, Stanley M. Howard, A. R. Young, J. F. Wilkerson, V. G. Egorov, Reyco Henning, F. M. Fraenkle, A. L. Hallin, N. Abgrall, E. Aguayo, C. D. Christofferson, P. Finnerty, B. Shanks, Richard T. Kouzes, J. MacMullin, V. E. Guiseppe, S. R. Elliott, B. R. White, Susanne Mertens, Alan Poon, P. J. Doe, L. Mizouni, Anne-Marie Suriano, J. A. Detwiler, C.-H. Yu, V. V. Timkin, A. Soin, F. E. Bertrand, Tatsushi Shima, D. C. Combs, M. Boswell, Masaharu Nomachi, D. C. Radford, Jonathan D. Leon, K. J. Keeter, G. K. Giovanetti, J. C. Loach, Brian D. LaFerriere, K. Vorren, A. S. Barabash, E. Yakushev, M. C. Ronquest, S. I. Konovalov, and M. F. Kidd

Subjects
Nuclear physics, Physics, MAJORANA, Particle physics, Double beta decay, Neutrino
Abstract

The Majorana Demonstrator neutrinoless double beta-decay experiment is currently under construction at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in South Dakota, USA. An overview and status of the experiment are given.

Published
2014
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21. Low Background Signal Readout Electronics for the Majorana Demonstrator

Author

C. Wiseman, C.-H. Yu, D. Byram, D. J. Tedeschi, J. E. Trimble, M. C. Ronquest, K. J. Keeter, V. B. Brudanin, A. S. Barabash, Yuen-Dat Chan, M. P. Green, F. E. Bertrand, M. Shirchenko, John L. Orrell, Keith Rielage, Eric W. Hoppe, S. I. Konovalov, J. Gruszko, J. MacMullin, Kai Vetter, M. A. Howe, Yu. Efremenko, E. Romero-Romero, K. Vorren, C. D. Christofferson, M. F. Kidd, R. D. Martin, H. Ejiri, I. S. Guinn, S. R. Elliott, C. Cuesta, R. G. H. Robertson, A. Galindo-Uribarri, F. T. Avignone, R. L. Varner, N. Snyder, Brian D. LaFerriere, Reyco Henning, Matthew Busch, S. Vasilyev, E. Yakushev, Nicole R. Overman, N. Abgrall, C.M. O'Shaughnessy, B. R. Jasinski, W. Xu, A. S. Caldwell, B. Shanks, V. E. Guiseppe, Jonathan D. Leon, M. Buuck, Alan Poon, Anne-Marie Suriano, J. A. Detwiler, J. Rager, J. F. Wilkerson, B. R. White, Susanne Mertens, G. K. Giovanetti, Richard T. Kouzes, D. C. Radford, S. J. Meijer, Vladimir Yumatov, Stanley M. Howard, and J. Goett

Subjects
Physics, History, Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors, Isotopes of germanium, business.industry, Detector, Electrical engineering, FOS: Physical sciences, Instrumentation and Detectors (physics.ins-det), Particle detector, Computer Science Applications, Education, Semiconductor detector, MAJORANA, Double beta decay, Electronics, Nuclear Experiment (nucl-ex), business, Nuclear Experiment, Radioactive decay
Abstract

The MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR is a planned 40 kg array of Germanium detectors intended to demonstrate the feasibility of constructing a tonne-scale experiment that will seek neutrinoless double beta decay ($0\nu\beta\beta$) in $^{76}\mathrm{Ge}$. Such an experiment would require backgrounds of less than 1 count/tonne-year in the 4 keV region of interest around the 2039 keV Q-value of the $\beta\beta$ decay. Designing low-noise electronics, which must be placed in close proximity to the detectors, presents a challenge to reaching this background target. This paper will discuss the MAJORANA collaboration's solutions to some of these challenges.

Published
2015
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22. Status of the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR: A search for neutrinoless double-beta decay

Author

J. MacMullin, B. R. Jasinski, J. Rager, J. F. Wilkerson, Kai Vetter, B. R. White, J. E. Trimble, I. S. Guinn, S. J. Meijer, C. X. Baldenegro-Barrera, A. W. Bradley, M. Buuck, C.M. O'Shaughnessy, C.-H. Yu, B. Shanks, V. E. Guiseppe, Brian D. LaFerriere, A. Galindo-Uribarri, M. Shirchenko, F. T. Avignone, J. Goett, S. Vasilyev, R. L. Varner, Reyco Henning, T. Gilliss, D. Tedeschi, John L. Orrell, N. Abgrall, A. S. Caldwell, Yuen-Dat Chan, Vladimir Yumatov, Richard T. Kouzes, R. D. Martin, D. Byram, M. P. Green, Susanne Mertens, Stanley M. Howard, C. Wiseman, Jonathan D. Leon, Yu. Efremenko, R. G. H. Robertson, E. Romero-Romero, A. S. Barabash, H. Ejiri, M. A. Howe, F. E. Bertrand, W. Xu, C. Cuesta, E. Yakushev, G. K. Giovanetti, A. W. P. Poon, Anne-Marie Suriano, J. A. Detwiler, Eric W. Hoppe, J. Gruszko, K. Vorren, C. D. Christofferson, K. J. Keeter, V.B. Brudanin, S. I. Konovalov, D. C. Radford, S. R. Elliott, I. Zhitnikov, Matthew Busch, Keith Rielage, M. F. Kidd, I. J. Arnquist, and N. Snyder

Subjects
Physics, Nuclear and High Energy Physics, Antiparticle, Particle physics, media_common.quotation_subject, High Energy Physics::Phenomenology, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Fermion, Lepton number, Asymmetry, Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Nuclear physics, MAJORANA, Double beta decay, High Energy Physics::Experiment, Neutron, Neutrino, media_common
Abstract

If neutrinos are Majorana particles, i.e. fermions that are their own antiparticles, then neutrinoless double-beta (0νββ) decay is possible. In such a process, two neutrons can simultaneously decay into two protons and two electrons without emitting neutrinos. Neutrinos being Majorana particles would explicitly violate lepton number conservation, and might play a role in the matter–antimatter asymmetry in the universe. The MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR experiment is under construction at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, SD and will search for the neutrinoless double-beta (0νββ) decay of the 76Ge isotope. The goal of the experiment is to demonstrate that it is possible to achieve a sufficiently low background rate in the 4 keV region of interest (ROI) around the 2039 keV Q-value to justify building a tonne-scale experiment. In this paper, we discuss the physics and design of the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR, its approach to achieving ultra-low background and the status of the experiment.

Published
2015
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23. The MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR for 0νββ: Current Status and Future Plans

Author

Yuen-Dat Chan, S. J. Meijer, M. Shirchenko, John L. Orrell, O.I. Kochetov, A. Hegai, Eric W. Hoppe, R. D. Martin, M. A. Howe, A. S. Barabash, J. MacMullin, R. G. H. Robertson, N. Snyder, J. Gruszko, G. K. Giovanetti, Tatsushi Shima, J. C. Loach, Yu. Efremenko, E. Romero-Romero, Jonathan D. Leon, C.M. O'Shaughnessy, K. Pushkin, Matthew Busch, D. G. Phillips, Brian D. LaFerriere, Keith Rielage, J. F. Wilkerson, C.-H. Yu, James E. Fast, Nicole R. Overman, P. Finnerty, V. V. Timkin, Susanne Mertens, C. Cuesta, A. S. Caldwell, B. R. White, D. Byram, S. MacMullin, C. Wiseman, J. Rager, M. C. Ronquest, Jeffrey K. Thompson, Richard T. Kouzes, Alexis G. Schubert, B. Shanks, V. E. Guiseppe, D. C. Combs, D. C. Radford, W. Xu, K. J. Snavely, S. I. Konovalov, K. N. Gusev, E. Yakushev, K. Vorren, F. M. Fraenkle, C. D. Christofferson, Vladimir Yumatov, F. E. Bertrand, Stanley M. Howard, A. R. Young, S. R. Elliott, M. F. Kidd, Werner Tornow, M. Boswell, Kai Vetter, Ryuta Hazama, Masaharu Nomachi, J. E. Trimble, V. G. Egorov, Alan Poon, Anne-Marie Suriano, J. A. Detwiler, A. Galindo-Uribarri, P. J. Doe, K. J. Keeter, V.B. Brudanin, F. T. Avignone, R. L. Varner, Reyco Henning, S. Vasilyev, A. L. Hallin, N. Abgrall, L. E. Leviner, M. P. Green, E. Aguayo, H. Ejiri, and J. Goett

Subjects
Physics, business.industry, majorana, Physics and Astronomy(all), Modular design, germanium detector, neutrinoless double beta decay, Semiconductor detector, Nuclear physics, MAJORANA, Region of interest, Double beta decay, Systems engineering, business
Abstract

The MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR will search for neutrinoless-double-beta decay (0νββ) in 76Ge, while establishing the feasibility of a future tonne-scale germanium-based 0νββ experiment, and performing searches for new physics beyond the Standard Model. The experiment, currently under construction at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, SD, will consist of a pair of modular high-purity germanium detector arrays housed inside of a compact copper, lead, and polyethylene shield. Through a combination of strict materials qualifications and assay, low-background design, and powerful background rejection techniques, the Demonstrator aims to achieve a background rate in the 0νββ region of interest (ROI) of no more than 3 counts in the 0νββ-decay ROI per tonne of target isotope per year (cnts/(ROI-t-y)). The current status of the Demonstrator is discussed, as are plans for its completion.

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24. Status update of the majorana demonstrator neutrinoless double beta decay experiment

Author

I. S. Guinn, J. F. Wilkerson, Howe, B. R. White, I. Zhitnikov, T. Gilliss, A. S. Barabash, Brian D. LaFerriere, Matthew Busch, R. D. Martin, Yu. Efremenko, J. Rager, D. Byram, G. K. Giovanetti, S. R. Elliott, A. S. Caldwell, W. Xu, R. G. H. Robertson, J. MacMullin, Y-D. Chan, K. Vorren, Richard T. Kouzes, J. Gruszko, E. Romero-Romero, B. Shanks, V. E. Guiseppe, Keith Rielage, S. I. Konovalov, K. J. Keeter, J. Goett, Jonathan D. Leon, Alan Poon, Anne-Marie Suriano, J. A. Detwiler, C. Cuesta, Kai Vetter, F. T. Avignone, Susanne Mertens, R. L. Varner, E. Yakushev, M. Buuck, B. R. Jasinski, M. Shirchenko, Reyco Henning, John L. Orrell, M. P. Green, S. J. Meijer, D. J. Tedeschi, H. Ejiri, A. W. Bradley, Ralph Massarczyk, A. Galindo-Uribarri, C. Wiseman, S. Vasilyev, N. Abgrall, C. Dunagan, I. J. Arnquist, N. Snyder, J. E. Trimble, Pinghan Chu, V. B. Brudanin, M. F. Kidd, C. D. Christofferson, F. E. Bertrand, Eric W. Hoppe, C.-H. Yu, C. O'Shaughnessy, Vladimir Yumatov, Stanley M. Howard, and D. C. Radford

Subjects
Physics, Particle physics, Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors, Dirac (video compression format), FOS: Physical sciences, Instrumentation and Detectors (physics.ins-det), nucl-ex, 7. Clean energy, Semiconductor detector, Nuclear physics, MAJORANA, Double beta decay, Leptogenesis, Grand Unified Theory, Nuclear Experiment (nucl-ex), Neutrino, Neutrino oscillation, Nuclear Experiment, physics.ins-det
Abstract

Neutrinoless double beta decay searches play a major role in determining neutrino properties, in particular the Majorana or Dirac nature of the neutrino and the absolute scale of the neutrino mass. The consequences of these searches go beyond neutrino physics, with implications for Grand Unification and leptogenesis. The \textsc{Majorana} Collaboration is assembling a low-background array of high purity Germanium (HPGe) detectors to search for neutrinoless double-beta decay in $^{76}$Ge. The \textsc{Majorana Demonstrator}, which is currently being constructed and commissioned at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, South Dakota, will contain 44 kg (30 kg enriched in $^{76}$Ge) of HPGe detectors. Its primary goal is to demonstrate the scalability and background required for a tonne-scale Ge experiment. This is accomplished via a modular design and projected background of less than 3 cnts/tonne-yr in the region of interest. The experiment is currently taking data with the first of its enriched detectors., Presentation at the DPF 2015 Meeting of the American Physical Society Division of Particles and Fields, Ann Arbor, Michigan, August 4-8, 2015. 6 pages. 5 figures

25. Search for Neutrinoless Double-β Decay in ^{76}Ge with the Majorana Demonstrator.

Author

Aalseth CE, Abgrall N, Aguayo E, Alvis SI, Amman M, Arnquist IJ, Avignone FT, Back HO, Barabash AS, Barbeau PS, Barton CJ, Barton PJ, Bertrand FE, Bode T, Bos B, Boswell M, Bradley AW, Brodzinski RL, Brudanin V, Busch M, Buuck M, Caldwell AS, Caldwell TS, Chan YD, Christofferson CD, Chu PH, Collar JI, Combs DC, Cooper RJ, Cuesta C, Detwiler JA, Doe PJ, Dunmore JA, Efremenko Y, Ejiri H, Elliott SR, Fast JE, Finnerty P, Fraenkle FM, Fu Z, Fujikawa BK, Fuller E, Galindo-Uribarri A, Gehman VM, Gilliss T, Giovanetti GK, Goett J, Green MP, Gruszko J, Guinn IS, Guiseppe VE, Hallin AL, Haufe CR, Hehn L, Henning R, Hoppe EW, Hossbach TW, Howe MA, Jasinski BR, Johnson RA, Keeter KJ, Kephart JD, Kidd MF, Knecht A, Konovalov SI, Kouzes RT, LaFerriere BD, Leon J, Lesko KT, Leviner LE, Loach JC, Lopez AM, Luke PN, MacMullin J, MacMullin S, Marino MG, Martin RD, Massarczyk R, McDonald AB, Mei DM, Meijer SJ, Merriman JH, Mertens S, Miley HS, Miller ML, Myslik J, Orrell JL, O'Shaughnessy C, Othman G, Overman NR, Perumpilly G, Pettus W, Phillips DG, Poon AWP, Pushkin K, Radford DC, Rager J, Reeves JH, Reine AL, Rielage K, Robertson RGH, Ronquest MC, Ruof NW, Schubert AG, Shanks B, Shirchenko M, Snavely KJ, Snyder N, Steele D, Suriano AM, Tedeschi D, Tornow W, Trimble JE, Varner RL, Vasilyev S, Vetter K, Vorren K, White BR, Wilkerson JF, Wiseman C, Xu W, Yakushev E, Yaver H, Young AR, Yu CH, Yumatov V, Zhitnikov I, Zhu BX, and Zimmermann S

Abstract

The Majorana Collaboration is operating an array of high purity Ge detectors to search for neutrinoless double-β decay in ^{76}Ge. The Majorana Demonstrator comprises 44.1 kg of Ge detectors (29.7 kg enriched in ^{76}Ge) split between two modules contained in a low background shield at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, South Dakota. Here we present results from data taken during construction, commissioning, and the start of full operations. We achieve unprecedented energy resolution of 2.5 keV FWHM at Q_{ββ} and a very low background with no observed candidate events in 9.95 kg yr of enriched Ge exposure, resulting in a lower limit on the half-life of 1.9×10^{25}  yr (90% C.L.). This result constrains the effective Majorana neutrino mass to below 240-520 meV, depending on the matrix elements used. In our experimental configuration with the lowest background, the background is 4.0_{-2.5}^{+3.1}  counts/(FWHM t yr).

Published
2018
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26. New Limits on Bosonic Dark Matter, Solar Axions, Pauli Exclusion Principle Violation, and Electron Decay from the Majorana Demonstrator.

Author

Abgrall N, Arnquist IJ, Avignone FT, Barabash AS, Bertrand FE, Bradley AW, Brudanin V, Busch M, Buuck M, Caldwell TS, Chan YD, Christofferson CD, Chu PH, Cuesta C, Detwiler JA, Dunagan C, Efremenko Y, Ejiri H, Elliott SR, Gilliss T, Giovanetti GK, Goett J, Green MP, Gruszko J, Guinn IS, Guiseppe VE, Haufe CRS, Henning R, Hoppe EW, Howard S, Howe MA, Jasinski BR, Keeter KJ, Kidd MF, Konovalov SI, Kouzes RT, Lopez AM, MacMullin J, Martin RD, Massarczyk R, Meijer SJ, Mertens S, O'Shaughnessy C, Poon AWP, Radford DC, Rager J, Reine AL, Rielage K, Robertson RGH, Shanks B, Shirchenko M, Suriano AM, Tedeschi D, Trimble JE, Varner RL, Vasilyev S, Vetter K, Vorren K, White BR, Wilkerson JF, Wiseman C, Xu W, Yakushev E, Yu CH, Yumatov V, Zhitnikov I, and Zhu BX

Abstract

We present new limits on exotic keV-scale physics based on 478 kg d of Majorana Demonstrator commissioning data. Constraints at the 90% confidence level are derived on bosonic dark matter (DM) and solar axion couplings, Pauli exclusion principle violating (PEPV) decay, and electron decay using monoenergetic peak signal limits above our background. Our most stringent DM constraints are set for 11.8 keV mass particles, limiting g&#95;{Ae}<4.5×10^{-13} for pseudoscalars and (α^{'}/α)<9.7×10^{-28} for vectors. We also report a 14.4 keV solar axion coupling limit of g&#95;{AN}^{eff}×g&#95;{Ae}<3.8×10^{-17}, a 1/2β^{2}<8.5×10^{-48} limit on the strength of PEPV electron transitions, and a lower limit on the electron lifetime of τ&#95;{e}>1.2×10^{24}  yr for e^{-}→ invisible.

Published
2017
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