The {\sc Majorana Demonstrator}, a $^{76}$Ge-based neutrinoless double-beta decay experiment

ORAL

Abstract

The observation of neutrinoless double-beta decay would confirm the Majorana nature of the neutrino, show lepton number is not conserved, and would provide a value for the effective Majorana neutrino mass. The goal of the M\textsc{ajorana} collaboration is to develop a tonne-scale $^{76}$Ge-based neutrinoless double-beta decay experiment. Currently, efforts are underway to construct the M\textsc{ajorana} D\textsc{emonstrator}, a 40-kg array of germanium crystals, located at the 4850$^{\prime}$ level of the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in Lead, SD. The goal of the D\textsc{emonstrator} is to demonstrate the ability to construct a detector composed of an array of germanium crystals while maintaining an unprecedented low background that is essential for the observation of neutrinoless double-beta decay. The past and current efforts in the construction of the D\textsc{emonstrator} and its predecessor, the Prototype Cryostat, will be presented.

Authors

  • Jacqueline Strain

    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill