{
  "id": "2109.07575",
  "version": "v1",
  "published": "2021-09-15T21:06:37.000Z",
  "updated": "2021-09-15T21:06:37.000Z",
  "title": "Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay with Germanium Detectors: 10$^{26}$ yr and Beyond",
  "authors": [
    "V. D'Andrea",
    "N. Di Marco",
    "M. B. Junker",
    "M. Laubenstein",
    "C. Macolino",
    "M. Morella",
    "F. Salamida",
    "C. Vignoli"
  ],
  "comment": "28 pages, 15 figures",
  "journal": "Universe 2021, 7(9), 341",
  "doi": "10.3390/universe7090341",
  "categories": [
    "hep-ex",
    "physics.ins-det"
  ],
  "abstract": "In the global landscape of neutrinoless double beta ($0\\nu\\beta\\beta$) decay search, the use of semiconductor germanium detectors provides many advantages. The excellent energy resolution, the negligible intrinsic radioactive contamination, the possibility of enriching the crystals up to 88% in the $^{76}$Ge isotope as well as the high detection efficiency, are all key ingredients for highly sensitive $0\\nu\\beta\\beta$ decay search. The MAJORANA and GERDA experiments successfully implemented the use of germanium (Ge) semiconductor detectors, reaching an energy resolution of $2.53 \\pm 0.08$ keV at the Q$_{\\beta\\beta}$ and an unprecedented low background level of $5.2 \\times 10^{-4}$ cts/(keV$\\cdot$kg$\\cdot$yr), respectively. In this paper, we will review the path of $0\\nu\\beta\\beta$ decay search with Ge detectors from the original idea of E. Fiorini et al. in 1967, to the final recent results of the GERDA experiment setting a limit on the half-life of $^{76}$Ge $0\\nu\\beta\\beta$ decay at $T_{1/2} > 1.8 \\times 10^{26}$ yr (90\\% C.L.). We will then present the LEGEND project designed to reach a sensitivity to the half-life up to $10^{28}$ yr and beyond, opening the way to the exploration of the normal ordering region.",
  "revisions": [
    {
      "version": "v1",
      "updated": "2021-09-15T21:06:37.000Z"
    }
  ],
  "analyses": {
    "keywords": [
      "neutrinoless double beta decay",
      "decay search",
      "gerda experiment",
      "excellent energy resolution",
      "semiconductor germanium detectors"
    ],
    "tags": [
      "journal article"
    ],
    "note": {
      "typesetting": "TeX",
      "pages": 28,
      "language": "en",
      "license": "arXiv",
      "status": "editable"
    }
  }
}