Mainz 2014 – scientific programme
Parts | Days | Selection | Search | Updates | Downloads | Help
T: Fachverband Teilchenphysik
T 18: Niederenergie-Neutrinophysik 1
T 18.4: Talk
Monday, March 24, 2014, 11:45–12:00, P106
Background Estimation for a large scale COBRA Experiment — •Nadine Heidrich for the COBRA collaboration — Institut für Experimentalphysik, Universität Hamburg, D
The aim of the COBRA experiment is to measure the neutrinoless double beta decay (0νββ) by using cadmium zinc telluride (CdZnTe) semiconductor detectors.
The concept for a large scale set–up consists of an array of CdZnTe detectors with a total mass of 420 kg enriched in 116Cd up to 90 %. With a background rate in the order of 10−3 counts/keV/kg/year,
the experiment would be sensitive to a half–life T1/2 larger than 1026 years, corresponding to a Majorana mass term mββ smaller than 50 meV.
To achieve this background level, an appropriate shield was developed based on Monte-Carlo simulations. As a next step, various background sources in different parts of the set–up were simulated and their contribution to the background rate calculated. In the talk the current status of the Monte–Carlo survey is presented and discussed.