Precision (n,γ) cross-section measurement of Cu at 8 and 12 MeV for shielding designs for the next generation of 0νββ decay experiments.
Abstract
Renewed interest in observing 0νββ decay reactions has sparked efforts to experimentally verify the existence of such decays, and produce new physics beyond the Standard Model. These reactions, with half-lives around 10^27 years, require an extensive understanding of background sources. The potential for neutron induced excitation of the shielding and detector materials is important for understanding and designing future 0νββ decay experiments. Gamma transitions at 2041, 2615, and 3062 keV directly obscure 0νββ decay detection of ^76Ge at 2040 keV. Due to lack of experimental information in the nuclear database, high-resolution γ-ray spectra from the interaction of mono-energetic and pulsed neutrons were measured at TUNL. The emitted gamma rays were detected with 3 HPGe segmented clover detectors at 62^o, 90^o, and 135^o. From these data, partial cross-sections for prominent γ transitions in ^63,65Cu were derived at En=8 and 12 MeV. This experimental information will also help to understand the existing 0νββ data and serve as a benchmark for statistical model calculations. Supported in part by DOE grant DE-FG02-97ER41033 and NSF grant NSF-PHY-05-52723.
- Publication:
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APS Division of Nuclear Physics Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- October 2006
- Bibcode:
- 2006APS..DNP.3A004A