The MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR is an array of P-type point contact germanium detectors enclosed in a low-background shield, operating at the Sanford Underground Research Facility. The first results from its search for neutrinoless double beta decay with a 10 kg-y data set show world-leading energy resolution at the Q-value (2039 keV) and extremely low background levels in its optimal configuration. This is an important milestone in the development of a next-generation, ton-scale experiment. Complementary to its neutrino program, the DEMONSTRATOR is also capable of low energy rare event searches, routinely operating with sub-keV thresholds. This is enabling a search for dark matter and solar axions. The lowest energy regions of the data set present a challenge to reliably discriminate physics from electronics noise.
In addition to a discussion of the recent double-beta decay result, I will discuss new noise rejection methods for the DEMONSTRATOR and prospects for an upcoming solar axion result.
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Exploring Neutrino and Axion Physics with the Majorana Demonstrator
Clint Wiseman, University of South Carolina
Thursday, March 29, 2018 - 3:45pm to 4:45pm
NPL Conference Room, Rm 178