Monte Carlo Studies and Optimization for the Calibration System of the GERDA Experiment

TL;DR

This paper uses Monte Carlo simulations to optimize the calibration system of the GERDA experiment, determining source configurations that ensure efficient calibration while assessing background contributions.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed Monte Carlo based approach to optimize calibration source placement and activity for the GERDA experiment, improving calibration efficiency and background estimation.

Findings

Three Th-228 sources with 20 kBq activity are needed for efficient calibration.

Calibration can be completed in less than four hours.

Background contribution from sources is quantified as approximately 1.07 x 10^{-4} cts/(keV kg yr).

Abstract

The GERmanium Detector Array, GERDA, searches for neutrinoless double beta decay in Ge-76 using bare high-purity germanium detectors submerged in liquid argon. For the calibration of these detectors gamma emitting sources have to be lowered from their parking position on top of the cryostat over more than five meters down to the germanium crystals. With the help of Monte Carlo simulations, the relevant parameters of the calibration system were determined. It was found that three Th-228 sources with an activity of 20 kBq each at two different vertical positions will be necessary to reach sufficient statistics in all detectors in less than four hours of calibration time. These sources will contribute to the background of the experiment with a total of (1.07 +/- 0.04(stat) +0.13 -0.19(sys)) 10^{-4} cts/(keV kg yr) when shielded from below with 6 cm of tantalum in the parking position.