Speaker
Andrew Lopez
(University of Tennessee)
Description
Neutrino-less double beta decay searches are a promising method of determining currently unknown neutrino properties. The {\sc Majorana} Collaboration is constructing an ultra-low background modular high-purity Ge detector array in order to search for neutrino-less double beta decay in 76Ge. The {\sc Demonstrator} detector assembly, located at the 4850-ft level of the Sanford Underground Research Facility, has the goal of showing that the background levels necessary for a tonne-scale experiment of similar design are achievable. The talk will include a short introduction to the experiment, as well as a discussion of achievements made in detector construction, data analysis, and simulations. With the completion of the shielding earlier this year, all of the detectors are in their final configuration. The current status of the {\sc Demonstrator} will be presented and future plans will be discussed. This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Nuclear Physics, the Particle Astrophysics Program of the National Science Foundation, and the Sanford Underground Research Facility.
Primary author
Andrew Lopez
(University of Tennessee)