Speaker
Ian Guinn
(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
Description
The \textsc{Majorana Demonstrator} is studying double-beta decay in $^{76}$Ge using a modular array of high purity Germanium detectors. The experiment is constructed using low-background materials and is currently operating at the '4850 level of the Sanford Underground Research Facility. The experiment consists of two modules with 29~detectors each, consisting of 44.8~kg of germanium detectors, 29.7~kg of which are enriched to 88\% in $^{76}$Ge. The \textsc{Demonstrator} is searching for double-beta decay of $^{76}$Ge to three different excited states (E.S.s) of $^{76}$Se. The E.S. decays have a clear event signature consisting of a $\beta\beta$-decay with the prompt emission of one or two $\gamma$-rays, resulting in with high probability in a multi-site event. The granularity of the \textsc{Demonstrator} detector array enables powerful discrimination of this event signature from backgrounds. This talk will present the results of \textsc{Majorana Demonstrator}'s search for $\beta\beta$-decay to excited states.
This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Nuclear Physics, the Particle Astrophysics and Nuclear Physics Programs of the National Science Foundation, and the Sanford Underground Research Facility.
Primary author
Ian Guinn
(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
