Search for neutrinoless double beta decay with GERDA phase II

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Contributors

  • GERDA collaboration - , Jagiellonian University in Kraków (Author)
  • Chair of Nuclear Physics
  • National Institute for Nuclear Physics
  • Russian Research Centre Kurchatov Institute
  • RAS - Institute for Nuclear Research
  • University of Zurich
  • Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
  • University of Milan - Bicocca
  • Alikhanov Institute for Theoretical and Experimental Physics
  • University of Padua
  • Technical University of Munich
  • Joint Institute for Nuclear Research
  • Max Planck Institute for Physics (Werner Heisenberg Institute)
  • University of Tübingen
  • European Commission Joint Research Centre Institute
  • TUD Dresden University of Technology

Abstract

The GERmanium Detector Array (gerda) experiment, located at the Gran Sasso underground laboratory in Italy, is one of the leading experiments for the search of 0νββ decay. In Phase II of the experiment 35.6 kg of enriched germanium detectors are operated. The application of active background rejection methods, such as a liquid argon scintillation light read-out and pulse shape discrimination of germanium detector signals, allowed to reduce the background index to the intended level of 10-3 cts/(keV·kg·yr). 

In the first five month of data taking 10.8 kg yr of exposure were accumulated. No signal has been found and together with data from Phase I a new limit for the neutrinoless double beta decay half-life of 76Ge of 5.3·1025 yr at 90% C.L. was established in June 2016. Phase II data taking is ongoing and will allow the exploration of half-lifes in the 1026 yr regime. The current status of data taking and an update on the background index are presented.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationWorkshop on Calculation of Double-Beta-Decay Matrix Elements, MEDEX 2017
EditorsOsvaldo Civitarese, Jouni Suhonen, Ivan Stekl
PublisherAmerican Institute of Physics Inc.
ISBN (electronic)9780735415775
Publication statusPublished - 16 Oct 2017
Peer-reviewedYes

Publication series

SeriesAIP Conference Proceedings
Number1
Volume1894
ISSN0094-243X

Conference

Title11th Workshop on Calculation of Double-Beta-Decay Matrix Elements, MEDEX 2017
Duration29 May - 2 June 2017
CityPrague
CountryCzech Republic

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas