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Search for Neutrinoless Double-β Decay in Ge76 with the Majorana Demonstrator

C. E. Aalseth et al. (Majorana Collaboration)
Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 132502 – Published 26 March 2018
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Abstract

The Majorana Collaboration is operating an array of high purity Ge detectors to search for neutrinoless double-β decay in Ge76. The Majorana Demonstrator comprises 44.1 kg of Ge detectors (29.7 kg enriched in Ge76) 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 Qββ 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 1.9×1025yr (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 4.02.5+3.1counts/(FWHMtyr).

  • Figure
  • Received 8 November 2017
  • Revised 9 January 2018
  • Corrected 28 March 2018

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.132502

© 2018 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Particles & FieldsNuclear Physics

Corrections

28 March 2018

Correction: The arXiv number in Ref. [40] was corrected.

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The Hunt for No Neutrinos

Published 26 March 2018

Four experiments have demonstrated new levels of sensitivity to neutrinoless double-beta decay, a process whose existence would prove that neutrinos are their own antiparticles.

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See Also

First Results from CUORE: A Search for Lepton Number Violation via 0νββ Decay of Te130

C. Alduino et al. (CUORE Collaboration)
Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 132501 (2018)

Improved Limit on Neutrinoless Double-β Decay of Ge76 from GERDA Phase II

M. Agostini et al. (GERDA Collaboration)
Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 132503 (2018)

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Vol. 120, Iss. 13 — 30 March 2018

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