The GERDA (GERmanium Detector Array) is an experiment for the search of neutrinoless double beta decay (0 nu beta beta) in Ge-76, located at Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso of INFN (Italy). In the first phase of the experiment, a 90% confidence level (C.L.) sensitivity of 2.4 . 10(25) yr on the 0 nu beta beta decay half-life was achieved with a 21.6 kg.yr exposure and an unprecedented background index in the region of interest of 10(-2) counts/(keV.kg.yr). No excess of signal events was found, and an experimental lower limit on the half-life of 2.1 . 10(25) yr (90% C.L.) was established. Correspondingly, the limit on the effective Majorana neutrino mass is m(ee) < 0.2-0.4 eV, depending on the considered nuclear matrix element. The previous claim for evidence of a 0 nu beta beta decay signal is strongly disfavored, and the field of research is open again.
Search of Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay with the GERDA Experiment
Pandola, L.;
2016-01-01
Abstract
The GERDA (GERmanium Detector Array) is an experiment for the search of neutrinoless double beta decay (0 nu beta beta) in Ge-76, located at Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso of INFN (Italy). In the first phase of the experiment, a 90% confidence level (C.L.) sensitivity of 2.4 . 10(25) yr on the 0 nu beta beta decay half-life was achieved with a 21.6 kg.yr exposure and an unprecedented background index in the region of interest of 10(-2) counts/(keV.kg.yr). No excess of signal events was found, and an experimental lower limit on the half-life of 2.1 . 10(25) yr (90% C.L.) was established. Correspondingly, the limit on the effective Majorana neutrino mass is m(ee) < 0.2-0.4 eV, depending on the considered nuclear matrix element. The previous claim for evidence of a 0 nu beta beta decay signal is strongly disfavored, and the field of research is open again.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.