Search

The Germanium Detector Array (GERDA) in the search for neutrinoless ββ decays of 76Ge at LNGS will operate bare germanium diodes enriched in 76Ge in an (optional active) cryogenic fluid shield to investigate neutrinoless ββ decay with a sensitivity of T 1/2 > 2 × 1026 yr after an exposure of 100 kg yr. Recent progress includes the installation of the first underground infrastructures at Gran Sasso, the completion of the enrichment of 37.5 kg of germanium material for detector construction, prototyping of low-mass detector support and contacts, and front-end and DAQ electronics, as well as the preparation for construction of the cryogenic vessel and water tank. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LEGEND-200 (Large Enriched Germanium Experiment for Neutrinoless ββ Decay) is a physics experiment at the Gran Sasso National Laboratories (LNGS) in Italy searching for neutrinoless double beta (0υββ) decay of 76Ge using enriched high purity germanium (HPGe) detectors with a total mass of about 200 kg. During the production of germanium crystals, especially during the crystal cutting, a fraction of the enriched germanium remains as metal residues. To reuse these residual materials again for crystal growing, they must be efficiently purified. A special plant was built to purify and convert Ge metal to GeO 2. Quadrupole ICP-MS (Q-ICP-MS) and High Resolution ICP-MS (HR-ICP-MS) were used to characterize the starting materials, reaction and final products. The results of the analyses are presented here. • ICP-MS analysis of germanium samples. • Purification of germanium crystals. • Use of high resolution ICP-MS. • Online check of purification system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]