MAJORANA Collaboration's Experience with Germanium Detectors

TL;DR

The paper discusses the Majorana Demonstrator's experience with enriched germanium detectors for neutrinoless double beta decay search, focusing on production, characterization, and performance of these detectors.

Contribution

It provides a detailed account of the manufacturing, characterization, and integration processes of enriched germanium detectors used in the Majorana experiment.

Findings

High energy resolution achieved with germanium detectors

Effective pulse shape discrimination demonstrated

Reliable production and integration process established

Abstract

The goal of the \textsc{Majorana} \textsc{Demonstrator} project is to search for 0$\nu\beta\beta$ decay in $^{76}\mathrm{Ge}$. Of all candidate isotopes for 0$\nu\beta\beta$, $^{76}\mathrm{Ge}$ has some of the most favorable characteristics. Germanium detectors are a well established technology, and in searches for 0$\nu\beta\beta$, the high purity germanium crystal acts simultaneously as source and detector. Furthermore, p-type germanium detectors provide excellent energy resolution and a specially designed point contact geometry allows for sensitive pulse shape discrimination. This paper will summarize the experiences the \textsc{Majorana} collaboration made with enriched germanium detectors manufactured by ORTEC$^{\circledR}$. The process from production, to characterization and integration in \textsc{Majorana} mounting structure will be described. A summary of the performance of all enriched germanium detectors will be given.