A Low-Background Front-End Electronics Package for Germanium Spectrometers

The Majorana project is a next-generation {$^{76}$Ge} neutrinoless double-beta decay search, using 57 isotopically- enriched segmented germanium crystals mounted in each of 9 modular cryostats. This configuration provides physical granularity which should reject most expected backgrounds. Greater effective granularity is planned via pulse-shape analysis. This requires $\sim$25~MHz bandwidth from the front- end electronics placed close to the crystals. Due to their proximity to the crystals, the front-end electronics must be radiopure. PNNL has developed a Low-background Front-end Electronics Package (LFEP) to support low-background spectrometer projects. The design and performance of the first LFEP boards is discussed, along with their potential application for Majorana.