Radon and ionosphere monitoring as a means for strong earthquakes forecast

The relation between radon emanation in seismically active regions and variations of the ionosphere parameters is considered. The quasistationary anomalous electric field generated in the near-ground layer of the atmosphere due to radon and metallic aerosols emanation is proposed as the main agent of the seismo-ionospheric coupling mechanism. The effects of the quasistationary electric field penetrated into the ionosphere are considered theoretically and compared with the experimental results. The comparison confirms the proposed conception of the seismo-ionospheric coupling

Price assymetry in the Dutch retail gasoline market

This paper analyses retail price adjustments in the Dutch gasoline market. We estimate an asymmetric error correction model on weekly price changes for the years 1996 to 2001. We construct five datasets, one for each working day. The conclusions on asymmetric pricing are shown to differ over these datasets, suggesting that the choice of the day for which prices are observed matters more than commonly believed. In our view, the insufficient robustness of outcomes might explain the mixed conclusions found in the literature. Using two approaches, we also show that the effect of asymmetry on Dutch consumer costs is negligible

Study of the GERDA Phase II background spectrum

The Gerda experiment, located at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS) of INFN in Italy, searches for the neutrinoless double beta (0νββ) decay of (76)Ge. Gerda Phase II is aiming to reach a sensitivity for the 0νββ half life of 10(26) yr in ∼ 3 years of physics data taking with 100 kg·yr of exposure and a background index of ∼ 10(−)(3) cts/(keV·kg·yr). After 6 months of acquisition a first data release with 10.8 kg·yr of exposure is performed, showing that the design background is achieved. In this work a study of the Phase II background spectrum, the main spectral structures and the background sources will be presented and discussed

First results from GERDA Phase II

Gerda is designed for a background-free search of (76)Ge neutrinoless double-β decay, using bare Ge detectors in liquid Ar. The experiment was upgraded after the successful completion of Phase I to double the target mass and further reduce the background. Newly-designed Ge detectors were installed along with LAr scintillation sensors. Phase II of data-taking started in Dec 2015 with approximately 36 kg of Ge detectors and is currently ongoing. The first results based on 10.8 kg· yr of exposure are presented. The background goal of 10(−)(3) cts/(keV· kg· yr) is achieved and a search for neutrinoless double-β decay is performed by combining Phase I and II data. No signal is found and a new limit is set at $T_{1/2}^{0\nu } > 5.3 \cdot {10^{25}}$ yr (90% C.L.)

Search for neutrinoless double beta decay with GERDA phase II

In the first five month of data taking 10.8 kg yr of exposure were accumulated. No signal has been found and together with data from Phase I a new limit for the neutrinoless double beta decay half-life of 76Ge of 5.3 · 1025 yr at 90% C.L. was established in June 2016. Phase II data taking is ongoing and will allow the exploration of half-lifes in the 1026 yr regime. The current status of data taking and an update on the background index are presented