The Majorana Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay Experiment

The proposed Majorana double-beta decay experiment is based on an array of segmented intrinsic Ge detectors with a total mass of 500 kg of Ge isotopically enriched to 86% in 76Ge. A discussion is given of background reduction by: material selection, detector segmentation, pulse shape analysis, and electro-formation of copper parts and granularity. Predictions of the experimental sensitivity are given. For an experimental running time of 10 years over the construction and operation of Majorana, a half-life sensitivity of ~4x10^27 y (neutrinoless) is predicted. This corresponds to an effective Majorana mass of the electron neutrino of ~0.03-0.04 eV, according to recent QRPA and RQRPA matrix element calculations.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figure

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Low-energy resonances in 25Mg(p, γ)26Al, 26Mg(p, γ)27Al and 27Al(p, γ)28Si

Gamma-ray decay schemes have been measured with bare and Compton-suppressed Ge detectors at low-energy resonances (EP < 340 keV) in the (p, γ) reactions on 25Mg, 26Mg and 27Al. Altogether 58 new decay branches have been observed and a new 26Mg(p, γ)27Al resonance has been found at EP = 154.5 ± 1.0 keV. The new branchings lead to Jπ; T determinations (or limitations) for two states in 26Al and four states in 28Si. The absolute strengths of the 25Mg(p, γ)26Al and 26Mg(p, γ)27Al resonances have also been obtained, and the uncertainties of the stellar rates, deduced from the available data for both reactions, are significantly reduced. Some astrophysical consequences are discussed. © 1990.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

The proposed Majorana 76Ge double-beta decay experiment

The proposed Majorana experiment is based on an array of segmented intrinsic Ge detectors with a total mass of 500 kg of Ge isotopically enriched to 86% in 76Ge. Background reduction will be accomplished by: material selection, detector segmentation, pulse shape analysis, electro-formation of copper parts, and granularity of detector spacing. The predicted experimental sensitivity for measurement of the neutrinoless double-beta decay mode of 76Ge, over a data acquisition period of 5000 kg·y, is T1/20ν ∼ 4×1027y. © 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V