Engineering topics

Finnerty, P

Publications and source records attributed to Finnerty, P.

4 records

DOE OSTI2018

Search for Neutrinoless Double-ß Decay in 76Ge with the Majorana Demonstrator

The Majorana Collaboration is operating an array of high purity Ge detectors to search for neutrinoless double-beta decay in 76Ge. The Majorana Demonstrator is comprised of 44.8 kg (29.7 kg enriched in 76Ge) of Ge detectors in total, 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. Given the unprecedented energy resolution at Q of 2.5 keV FWHM and the very low background with no observed candidate events in 10 kg yr of enriched Ge exposure, we find a lower limit on the half-life of 1:9 x 1025 yr (90% CL). This result constrains the effective Majorana neutrino mass to below 250 to 550 meV, depending on the matrix elements used. In our experimental configuration with the lowest background, the background is 4:0 +3:1(superscript) -2:5 (subscript) counts/(FWHM t yr) at 68% CL.

Aalseth, Craig E.↗

DOE OSTI2014

The Majorana Demonstrator: Progress towards showing the feasibility of a tonne–scale 76 Ge neutrinoless double–beta decay experiment

The Majorana Demonstrator will search for the neutrinoless double–beta decay (0vββ) of the 76 Ge isotope with a mixed array of enriched and natural germanium detectors. The observation of this rare decay would indicate the neutrino is its own anti–particle, demonstrate that lepton number is not conserved, and provide information on the absolute mass–scale of the neutrino. The Demonstrator is being assembled at the 4850 foot level of the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, South Dakota. The array will be contained in a low–background environment and surrounded by passive and active shielding. The goals for the Demonstrator are: demonstrating a background rate less than 3 t -1 y -1 in the 4 keV region of interest (ROI) surrounding the 2039 keV 76 Ge endpoint energy; establishing the technology required to build a tonne–scale germanium based double–beta decay experiment; testing the recent claim of observation of 0vββ [1]; and performing a direct search for light WIMPs (3-10 GeV/c 2 ).

Finnerty, P.↗

DOE OSTI2011

The Majorana Experiment

The Majorana collaboration is actively pursuing research and development aimed at a tonne-scale {sup 76}Ge neutrinoless double-beta decay ({beta}{beta}(0{nu})-decay) experiment. The current, primary focus is the construction of the Majorana Demonstrator experiment, an R and D effort that will field approximately 40 kg of germanium detectors with mixed enrichment levels. This article provides a status update on the construction of the Demonstrator.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2011

The MAJORANA Experiment

The Majorana Collaboration is assembling an array of HPGe detectors to search for neutrinoless double-beta decay in {sup 76}Ge. Initially, Majorana aims to construct a prototype module to demonstrate the potential of a future 1-tonne experiment. The design and potential reach of this prototype Demonstrator module are presented.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗