81 research outputs found
The background in the neutrinoless double beta decay experiment GERDA
The GERmanium Detector Array (GERDA) experiment at the Gran Sasso underground
laboratory (LNGS) of INFN is searching for neutrinoless double beta decay of
76Ge. The signature of the signal is a monoenergetic peak at 2039 keV, the
Q-value of the decay, Q_bb. To avoid bias in the signal search, the present
analysis does not consider all those events, that fall in a 40 keV wide region
centered around Q_bb. The main parameters needed for the neutrinoless double
beta decay analysis are described. A background model was developed to describe
the observed energy spectrum. The model contains several contributions, that
are expected on the basis of material screening or that are established by the
observation of characteristic structures in the energy spectrum. The model
predicts a flat energy spectrum for the blinding window around Q_bb with a
background index ranging from 17.6 to 23.8*10^{-3} counts/(keV kg yr). A part
of the data not considered before has been used to test if the predictions of
the background model are consistent. The observed number of events in this
energy region is consistent with the background model. The background at Q-bb
is dominated by close sources, mainly due to 42K, 214Bi, 228Th, 60Co and alpha
emitting isotopes from the 226Ra decay chain. The individual fractions depend
on the assumed locations of the contaminants. It is shown, that after removal
of the known gamma peaks, the energy spectrum can be fitted in an energy range
of 200 kev around Q_bb with a constant background. This gives a background
index consistent with the full model and uncertainties of the same size
Flux Modulations seen by the Muon Veto of the GERDA Experiment
The GERDA experiment at LNGS of INFN is equipped with an active muon veto.
The main part of the system is a water Cherenkov veto with 66~PMTs in the water
tank surrounding the GERDA cryostat. The muon flux recorded by this veto shows
a seasonal modulation. Two effects have been identified which are caused by
secondary muons from the CNGS neutrino beam (2.2 %) and a temperature
modulation of the atmosphere (1.4 %). A mean cosmic muon rate of /(sm) was found in good agreement with other experiments at
LNGS at a depth of 3500~meter water equivalent.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure
Status of the GERDA experiment
The study of neutrinoless double beta (0nbb) decay is the only one presently known approach to the fundamental question if the neutrino is a Majorana particle, i.e. its own anti-particle. The observation of 0nbb decay would prove that lepton number is not conserved, establish that neutrino has a Majorana component and, assuming that light neutrino is the dominating process, provide a method for the determination of its effective mass. GERDA is a new 0nbb decay experiment which is currently taking data at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS) of INFN in Italy. It implements a new shielding concept by operating bare diodes made from Ge with enriched 76Ge in high purity liquid argon supplemented by a water shield. The aim of GERDA is to verify or refute the recent claim of discovery, and, in a second phase, to achieve a two orders of magnitude lower background index than past experiments, to increase the sensitive mass and to collect an exposure of 100 kg yr. The paper will discuss design, physics reach, and status of data taking of GERDA.JRC.D.4-Standards for Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguard
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
The recognition of early developmental stages in haemopoiesis
Almost all tissues of multicellular organisms contain cells which
have the capacity to change their proliferative activity according to
the demand. Some tissues show little or no cellular turnover under
normal steady state conditions, but they can switch to a regeneration
process in response to perturbation (e.g., mechanical injury). In
other tissues, there is continuous cell production to compensate for
cell loss due to the continuous utilization of functional cells even
under normal conditions. Variation in demand is met by variation in
the rate of cell production. The cells which generate offspring
throughout life in the continuously renewing tissues are usually designated
as stem cells. Stem cells are capable of extensive proliferation
which results in new stem cells as well as differentiating cells.
The most extensively studied stem cell systems in vertebrates are
those of the epidermis, the intestinal epithelium, the testis and the
haemopoietic tissues. These systems are commonly used for investigations
on the mechanisms of cellular differentiation. In comparison to
differentiation processes during embryogenesis, the organization of
the stem cell systems in the adult is relatively simple. In adulthood,
differentiation is restricted to one or to a limited number of cell
types, while, in embryogenesis, differentiation into a large variety
of tissues takes plac
Kupfer- und bronzezeitliche Metallartefakte vom Westbalkan: Zur Frage nach den Quellen ihres Kupfers
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