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1. $$\alpha $$-event characterization and rejection in point-contact HPGe detectors

   https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-022-10161-y  

   Arnquist, I. J.; Avignone, F. T.; Barabash, A. S.; Barton, C. J.; Bertrand, F. E.; Blalock, E.; Bos, B.; Busch, M.; Buuck, M.; Caldwell, T. S.; et al (March 2022, The European Physical Journal C)

   Abstract P-type point contact (PPC) HPGe detectors are a leading technology for rare event searches due to their excellent energy resolution, low thresholds, and multi-site event rejection capabilities. We have characterized a PPC detector’s response to $$\alpha $$ α particles incident on the sensitive passivated and p $$^+$$ + surfaces, a previously poorly-understood source of background. The detector studied is identical to those in the Majorana Demonstrator experiment, a search for neutrinoless double-beta decay ( $$0\nu \beta \beta $$ 0 ν β β ) in $$^{76}$$ 76 Ge. $$\alpha $$ α decays on most of the passivated surface exhibit significant energy loss due to charge trapping, with waveforms exhibiting a delayed charge recovery (DCR) signature caused by the slow collection of a fraction of the trapped charge. The DCR is found to be complementary to existing methods of $$\alpha $$ α identification, reliably identifying $$\alpha $$ α background events on the passivated surface of the detector. We demonstrate effective rejection of all surface $$\alpha $$ α events (to within statistical uncertainty) with a loss of only 0.2% of bulk events by combining the DCR discriminator with previously-used methods. The DCR discriminator has been used to reduce the background rate in the $$0\nu \beta \beta $$ 0 ν β β region of interest window by an order of magnitude in the Majorana Demonstrator   and will be used in the upcoming LEGEND-200 experiment. 

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2. Optical properties of low background PEN structural components for the Legend-200 experiment

   https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-0221/17/09/P09007  

   Manzanillas, L.; Efremenko, Y.; Febbraro, M.; Fischer, F.; Guitart Corominas, M.; Hackett, B.; Leonhardt, A.; Majorovits, B.; Schulz, O. (September 2022, Journal of Instrumentation)

   Abstract Polyethylene Naphthalate (PEN) plastic scintillator has been identified as potential self-vetoing structural material in low-background physics experiments. Radio-pure scintillating components have been produced from PEN using injection compression molding technology. These low-background PEN components will be used as optically active holders to mount the Germanium detectors in the Legend -200 neutrinoless double beta decay experiment. In this paper, we present the measurement of the optical properties of these PEN components. The scintillation light emission spectrum, time constant, attenuation and bulk absorption length as well as light output and light yield are reported. In addition, the surface of these PEN components has been characterized and an estimation of the surface roughness is presented. The light output of the final Legend -200 detector holders has been measured and is reported. These measurements were used to estimate the self-vetoing efficiency of these holders. 

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3. Production and validation of scintillating structural components from low-background Poly(ethylene naphthalate)

   https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-0221/17/01/P01010  

   Efremenko, Y.; Febbraro, M.; Fischer, F.; Guitart Corominas, M.; Gusev, K.; Hackett, B.; Hayward, C.; Hodák, R.; Krause, P.; Majorovits, B.; et al (January 2022, Journal of Instrumentation)

   Abstract Poly Ethylene Naphthalate (PEN) is an industrial polymer plastic which is investigated as a low background, transparent, scintillating and wavelength shifting structural material. PEN scintillates in the blue region and has excellent mechanical properties both at room and cryogenic temperatures. Thus, it is an ideal candidate for active structural components in experiments for the search of rare events like neutrinoless double-beta decay or dark matter recoils. Such optically active structures improve the identification and rejection efficiency of backgrounds events, like this improving the sensitivity of experiments. This paper reports on the production of radiopure and transparent PEN plates These structures can be used to mount germanium detectors operating in cryogenic liquids (LAr, LN). Thus, as first application PEN holders will be used to mount the Ge detectors in the Legend -200 experiment. The whole process from cleaning the raw material to testing the PEN active components under final operational conditions is reported. 

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4. Energy calibration of germanium detectors for the Majorana Demonstrator

   https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-0221/18/09/P09023  

   Arnquist, IJ; Avignone_III, FT; Barabash, AS; Barton, CJ; Bhimani, KH; Blalock, E; Bos, B; Busch, M; Buuck, M; Caldwell, TS; et al (September 2023, Journal of Instrumentation)

   Abstract TheMajorana Demonstratorwas a search for neutrinoless double-beta decay (0νββ) in the⁷⁶Ge isotope. It was staged at the 4850-foot level of the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in Lead, SD. The experiment consisted of 58 germanium detectors housed in a low background shield and was calibrated once per week by deploying a²²⁸Th line source for 1 to 2 hours. The energy scale calibration determination for the detector array was automated using custom analysis tools. We describe the offline procedure for calibration of theDemonstratorgermanium detectors, including the simultaneous fitting of multiple spectral peaks, estimation of energy scale uncertainties, and the automation of the calibration procedure. 

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5. Topologies of $$^{76}$$Ge double-beta decay events and calibration procedure biases

   https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-023-11396-z  

   Comellato, Tommaso; Agostini, Matteo; Schönert, Stefan (March 2023, The European Physical Journal C)

   Abstract The analysis of the time profile of electrical signals produced by energy depositions in germanium detectors allows discrimination of events with different topologies. This is especially relevant for experiments searching for the neutrinoless double beta decay of $$^{76}$$ 76 Ge to distinguish the sought-after signal from other background sources. The standard calibration procedures used to tune the selection criteria for double-beta decay events use a $$^{228}$$ 228 Th source, because it provides samples of signal-like events. These samples exhibit energy spatial distributions with subtle different topologies compared to neutrinoless double-beta decay events. In this work, we will characterize these topological differences and, with the support of a $$^{56}$$ 56 Co source, evaluate biases and precision of calibration techniques which use such event samples. Our results will be particularly relevant for future experiments in which a solid estimation of the efficiency is required. 

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