New nuclear structure and decay results in the 76Ge-76As system

Abstract

The process of neutrinoless double beta decay plays a key role in modern neutrino physics. The experiments on the 76Ge neutrinoless double beta decay using germanium-semiconductors are at the forefront in this field. Due to the extremely low count rates expected for this rare decay, any kind of background event in the detector, especially at energies close to Q = 2039 keV has to be avoided. Therefore a careful investigation on the neutron-induced background was carried out. In this scope experiments investigating the inelastic-neutron-excitation of 76Ge and the de-exitation of its 69th level have been performed. The 70Ge(n,jn)68Ge crossection was measured with quasi-monoenergetic neutrons. In order to calculate the Matrixelement for the transition between the 76Ge-76As groundstates the Electron Capture at 76As has been measured for the first time.JRC.D.4-Standards for Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguard