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Internal Scanner for Rapid Characterization of <sup>76</sup>Ge detectors used in LEGEND-200

ORAL

Abstract

The LEGEND collaboration is developing an experimental search for neutrinoless double beta decay (0νββ) in the 76Ge isotope with a discovery potential of a half-life beyond 1028 years. The first phase, LEGEND-200, is an experimental search using 200 kg of 76Ge-enriched germanium, with data taking beginning in 2021. The search for 0νββ  requires a precise understanding of the behaviour of germanium detectors, necessitating extensive detector characterization. As characterization for LEGEND-200 is underway, there is an effort to develop a scanner for the characterization of the α, β, and γ response on and near the passivated surface of inverted coaxial point-contact detectors (ICPC) to be deployed in the experiment. Scanning a selected sample of points in a low background environment allows for rapid characterization. An 241Am source provides 5.45 MeV α's for measuring the α response on the passivated surface while a 137Cs source provides 625 keV internal conversion electrons for studying the β response. The development and initial results of the internal scanner will be presented.

Presenters

  • Aaron Engelhardt

    University of North Carolina at Chapel H

Authors

  • Aaron Engelhardt

    University of North Carolina at Chapel H