The Majorana neutrinoless double-beta decay experiment

The proposed Majorana double-beta decay experiment is based on an array of segmented intrinsic Ge detectors with a total mass of 500 kg of Ge isotopically enriched to 86% in Ge-76. A discussion is given of background reduction by material selection, detector segmentation, pulse shape analysis, and electroformation of copper parts and granularity. Predictions of the experimental sensitivity are given. For an experimental running time of 10 years over the construction and operation of the Majorana setup, a sensitivity of T-1/2(0v) similar to 4 x 10(27) yr is predicted. This corresponds to <m(v)> similar to 0.003-0.004 eV according to recent QRPA and RQRPA matrix element calculations. (C) 2004 MAIK "Nauka/Interperiodica".