A segmented, enriched N-type germanium detector for neutrinoless double beta-decay experiments
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2014-01-01
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We present data characterizing the performance of the first segmented, N-type Ge detector, isotopically enriched to 85% 76Ge. This detector, based on the Ortec PT6×2 design and referred to as SEGA (Segmented, Enriched Germanium Assembly), was developed as a possible prototype for neutrinoless double beta-decay measurements by the Majorana collaboration. We present some of the general characteristics (including bias potential, efficiency, leakage current, and integral cross-talk) for this detector in its temporary cryostat. We also present an analysis of the resolution of the detector, and demonstrate that for all but two segments there is at least one channel that reaches the Majorana resolution goal below 4 keV FWHM at 2039 keV, and all channels are below 4.5 keV FWHM. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.
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Leviner, LE, CE Aalseth, MW Ahmed, FT Avignone, HO Back, AS Barabash, M Boswell, L De Braeckeleer, et al. (2014). A segmented, enriched N-type germanium detector for neutrinoless double beta-decay experiments. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 735. pp. 66–77. 10.1016/j.nima.2013.08.081 Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/11079.
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Werner Tornow
My research interests are in experimental nuclear physics studies performed with beams of neutrons, photons and neutrinos. While the early focus was on polarization phenomena in few-body systems studied mainly with polarized neutrons first at the University of Tuebingen and later at TUNL (Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory at Duke University), subsequent activities include experiments in the broad field of weak-interaction nuclear physics.
In 1998 TUNL joined the KamLAND collaboration in Japan to pursue reactor antineutrino oscillation measurements. Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), I was the principle investigator (PI) of TUNL’s effort in building the veto detector of KamLAND. At about the same time I became one of the four originators of the Majorana zero-neutrino double-beta decay experiment on 76Ge, which later received DOE funding and is now known as the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR. Simultaneously, my group performed two-neutrino double-beta decay experiments to excited states in the daughter nucleus at TUNL and at the Kimballton mine in Virginia. In 2011, the KamLAND detector was modified to search for the zero-neutrino double-beta decay of 136Xe, resulting in the currently most stringent lower limit of larger than 3.8 x 1026 years for the decay half-life time for any zero-neutrino double-beta decay candidate nucleus, corresponding to an effective neutrino mass in the range of 28 to 125 meV, depending on the adopted nuclear matrix element calculations.
When I started my 10-year tenure as Director of TUNL in 1996, the Duke University Free-Electron Laser Laboratory (DFFLL), funded at the time by the U.S. Air Force Medical Free-Electron Laser Program, was already collaborating with nuclear physics faculty at TUNL In November 1996 I was fortunate enough to detect the first high-energy photons produced via Compton backscattering of free-electron laser low-energy photons from electrons circulating in the Duke 1.1 GeV electron storage ring. This was the beginning of HIGS, the High-Intensity Gamma-ray Source (strictly speaking the notation “Gamma-ray” is somewhat misleading; the “Gamma-Rays” produced at HIGS are actually high-energy photons and do not originate from nuclei, as gamma-rays do). After years of work sufficient funding was raised from DOE and Duke University to upgrade HIGS and convert it into a Nuclear Physics research facility operated by TUNL. As a result, I had to enlarge my nuclear physics portfolio to now include many-body physics as well, in order to manage the research opportunity provided by this worldwide unique facility. Here, nuclear structure experiments performed with mono-energetic incident photons in the 2 to 15 MeV energy range were of special interest for the many users from all around the world.
After retiring from teaching at Duke University in 2011, my research focus at TUNL’s Tandem Accelerator Laboratory was on experiments with mono-energetic neutron beams in the 0.5 to 30 MeV energy range. Here, nuclear fission studies have played a major role for about 12 years. In addition, my research group performed measurements to help quantify the neutron-induced background in zero-neutrino double-beta decay searches on 76Ge, 130Te and 136Xe as well as in associated shielding materials, including 40Ar. Furthermore, we studied reactions of importance for the National Ignition Facility (NIF) to help better understand the complicated physics governing the plasma generated in inertial confinement fusion laser shots at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. All these activities were supported by the Stewardship Science Academic Alliances Program of DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).
Ying Wu
Prof. Wu is interested in nonlinear dynamics of charged particle beams, coherent radiation sources, and the development of novel accelerators and light sources. One of his research focuses is to study the charged particle nonlinear dynamics using the modern techniques such as Lie Algebra, Differential Algebra, and Frequency Analysis. This direction of research will significantly further the understanding of the nonlinear phenomena in light source storage rings and collider rings, improve their performance, and provide guidance for developing next generation storage rings. The second area of research is to study and develop coherent radiation sources such as broad-band far infrared radiation from dipole magnets and coherent mm-wave radiation from a free-electron-laser (FEL). With this direction of research, he hopes to study the beam stability issues, in particular, the single bunch instabilities in the storage ring, develop diagnostics to monitor and improve the stability of the light source beams, and eventually develop novel means to overcome instabilities. These areas of research will provide foundations for developing a femto-second hard x-ray Compton back scattering radiation source driven by a mm-wave FEL - a next generation light source.
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