https://doi.org/10.1140/epja/i2012-12020-y
Regular Article - Experimental Physics
Prompt γ rays in 77Ge and 75Ge after thermal neutron capture
1
Kepler Center for Astro and Particle Physics, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, D-72076, Tübingen, Germany
2
Forschungs-Neutronenquelle Heinz Maier-Leibnitz FRM II, Technische Universität München, D-85747, Garching, Germany
3
Institut für Kernphysik, Universität zu Köln, D-50937, Cologne, Germany
* e-mail: grabmayr@uni-tuebingen.de
Received:
11
November
2011
Revised:
23
January
2012
Accepted:
6
February
2012
Published online:
20
February
2012
The reactions 74Ge(n, γ) and 76Ge(n, γ) have been measured with cold neutrons generated by the research reactor FRM II near Munich, Germany. The γ rays have been detected by two Compton-suppressed HPGe systems in single and coincidence mode. The number of identified prompt transitions and levels in 77Ge was increased significantly and the decay scheme could be reconstructed for the first time. The decay scheme was also reconstructed for 68 prompt transitions in 75Ge. Previously reported inconsistencies of the γ-ray intensities in the 77Ge β decay could be resolved. In particular, the region around 2039 keV was investigated carefully, since the background to the neutrinoless double-beta decay of 76Ge must be understood well for the upcoming Gerda and Majorana experiments.
© SIF, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 2012
