Cosmogenic activation of Germanium and its reduction for low background experiments

Production of $^{60}$Co and $^{68}$Ge from stable isotopes of Germanium by nuclear active component of cosmic rays is a principal background source for a new generation of $^{76}$Ge double beta decay experiments like GERDA and Majorana. The biggest amount of cosmogenic activity is expected to be produced during transportation of either enriched material or already grown crystal. In this letter properties and feasibility of a movable iron shield are discussed. Activation reduction factor of about 10 is predicted by simulations with SHIELD code for a simple cylindrical configuration. It is sufficient for GERDA Phase II background requirements. Possibility of further increase of reduction factor and physical limitations are considered. Importance of activation reduction during Germanium purification and detector manufacturing is emphasized.Comment: 10 pages, 3 tables, 6 figure

Prospects of Scintillating Crystal Detector in Low-Energy Low-Background Experiments

Scintillating crystal detector offers potential advantages in low-energy (keV-MeV range) low-background experiments for particle physics and astrophysics. The merits are discussed using CsI(Tl) crystal as illustrations. The various physics topics which can be pursued with this detector technology are summarized. A conceptual design for a generic detector is presented.Comment: 20 pages, 1 tables, 7 figures, submitted to Astroparticle Physic

A CsI(Tl) Scintillating Crystal Detector for the Studies of Low Energy Neutrino Interactions

Scintillating crystal detector may offer some potential advantages in the low-energy, low-background experiments. A 500 kg CsI(Tl) detector to be placed near the core of Nuclear Power Station II in Taiwan is being constructed for the studies of electron-neutrino scatterings and other keV-MeV range neutrino interactions. The motivations of this detector approach, the physics to be addressed, the basic experimental design, and the characteristic performance of prototype modules are described. The expected background channels and their experimental handles are discussed.Comment: 34 pages, 11 figures, submitted to Nucl. Instrum. Method