@article{sun_adamek_allgeier_bagdasarova_berguno_blatnik_bowles_broussard_brown_carr_et al._2020, title={Improved limits on Fierz interference using asymmetry measurements from the Ultracold Neutron Asymmetry (UCNA) experiment}, volume={101}, ISSN={2469-9985 2469-9993}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.101.035503}, DOI={10.1103/PhysRevC.101.035503}, abstractNote={The Ultracold Neutron Asymmetry (UCNA) experiment was designed to measure the β-decay asymmetry parameter, A₀, for free neutron decay. In the experiment, polarized ultracold neutrons are transported into a decay trap, and their β-decay electrons are detected with ≈4π acceptance into two detector packages which provide position and energy reconstruction. The experiment also has sensitivity to b_n, the Fierz interference term in the neutron β-decay rate. In this work, we determine b_n from the energy dependence of A₀ using the data taken during the UCNA 2011-2013 run. In addition, we present the same type of analysis using the earlier 2010 A dataset. Motivated by improved statistics and comparable systematic errors compared to the 2010 data-taking run, we present a new b_n measurement using the weighted average of our asymmetry dataset fits, to obtain b_n = 0.066±0.041_(stat)±0.024_(syst) which corresponds to a limit of −0.012 < b_n < 0.144 at the 90% confidence level.}, number={3}, journal={Physical Review C}, publisher={American Physical Society (APS)}, author={Sun, X. and Adamek, E. and Allgeier, B. and Bagdasarova, Y. and Berguno, D. B. and Blatnik, M. and Bowles, T. J. and Broussard, L. J. and Brown, M. A.-P. and Carr, R. and et al.}, year={2020}, month={Mar} }
 @inproceedings{giovanetti_abgrall_aguayo_avignone_barabash_bertrand_boswell_brudanin_busch_byram_et al._2015, title={A dark matter search with MALBEK}, volume={61}, ISSN={1875-3892}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/J.PHPRO.2014.12.014}, DOI={10.1016/j.phpro.2014.12.014}, abstractNote={Abstract The Majorana Demonstrator is an array of natural and enriched high purity germanium detectors that will search for the neutrinoless double-beta decay of 76 Ge and perform a search for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) with masses below 10 GeV. As part of the Majorana research and development efforts, we have deployed a modified, low-background broad energy germanium detector at the Kimballton Underground Research Facility. With its sub-keV energy threshold, this detector is sensitive to potential non-Standard Model physics, including interactions with WIMPs. We discuss the backgrounds present in the WIMP region of interest and explore the impact of slow surface event contamination when searching for a WIMP signal.}, booktitle={13th international conference on topics in astroparticle and underground physics, taup 2013}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Giovanetti, G.K. and Abgrall, N. and Aguayo, E. and Avignone, F.T., III and Barabash, A.S. and Bertrand, F.E. and Boswell, M. and Brudanin, V. and Busch, M. and Byram, D. and et al.}, year={2015}, pages={77–84} }
 @inproceedings{cuesta_abgrall_aguayo_avignone_barabash_bertrand_boswell_brudanin_busch_byram_et al._2015, title={Background model for the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR}, volume={61}, ISSN={1875-3892}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/J.PHPRO.2015.06.001}, DOI={10.1016/j.phpro.2015.06.001}, abstractNote={The Majorana Collaboration is constructing a system containing 40 kg of HPGe detectors to demonstrate the feasibility and potential of a future tonne-scale experiment capable of probing the neutrino mass scale in the inverted-hierarchy region. To realize this, a major goal of the Majorana Demonstrator is to demonstrate a path forward to achieving a background rate at or below 1 cnt/(ROI-t-y) in the 4 keV region of interest around the Q-value at 2039 keV. This goal is pursued through a combination of a significant reduction of radioactive impurities in construction materials with analytical methods for background rejection, for example using powerful pulse shape analysis techniques profiting from the p-type point contact HPGe detectors technology. The effectiveness of these methods is assessed using simulations of the different background components whose purity levels are constrained from radioassay measurements.}, booktitle={Physics Procedia}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Cuesta, C. and Abgrall, N. and Aguayo, E. and Avignone, F.T., III and Barabash, A.S. and Bertrand, F.E. and Boswell, M. and Brudanin, V. and Busch, M. and Byram, D. and et al.}, year={2015}, pages={821–827} }
 @misc{phillips_snow_babul_banerjee_baxter_berezhiani_bergevin_bhattacharya_brooijmans_castellanos_et al._2016, title={Neutron-antineutron oscillations: Theoretical status and experimental prospects}, volume={612}, ISSN={["1873-6270"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.physrep.2015.11.001}, abstractNote={The observation of neutrons turning into antineutrons would constitute a discovery of fundamental importance for particle physics and cosmology. Observing the n–n̄ transition would show that baryon number (B) is violated by two units and that matter containing neutrons is unstable. It would provide a clue to how the matter in our universe might have evolved from the B=0 early universe. If seen at rates observable in foreseeable next-generation experiments, it might well help us understand the observed baryon asymmetry of the universe. A demonstration of the violation of B–L by 2 units would have a profound impact on our understanding of phenomena beyond the Standard Model of particle physics. Slow neutrons have kinetic energies of a few meV. By exploiting new slow neutron sources and optics technology developed for materials research, an optimized search for oscillations using free neutrons from a slow neutron moderator could improve existing limits on the free oscillation probability by at least three orders of magnitude. Such an experiment would deliver a slow neutron beam through a magnetically-shielded vacuum chamber to a thin annihilation target surrounded by a low-background antineutron annihilation detector. Antineutron annihilation in a target downstream of a free neutron beam is such a spectacular experimental signature that an essentially background-free search is possible. An authentic positive signal can be extinguished by a very small change in the ambient magnetic field in such an experiment. It is also possible to improve the sensitivity of neutron oscillation searches in nuclei using large underground detectors built mainly to search for proton decay and detect neutrinos. This paper summarizes the relevant theoretical developments, outlines some ideas to improve experimental searches for free neutron oscillations, and suggests avenues both for theoretical investigation and for future improvement in the experimental sensitivity.}, journal={PHYSICS REPORTS-REVIEW SECTION OF PHYSICS LETTERS}, author={Phillips, D. G., II and Snow, W. M. and Babul, K. and Banerjee, S. and Baxter, D. V. and Berezhiani, Z. and Bergevin, M. and Bhattacharya, S. and Brooijmans, G. and Castellanos, L. and et al.}, year={2016}, month={Feb}, pages={1–45} }
 @inproceedings{xu_abgrall_aguayo_avignone_barabash_bertrand_boswell_brudanin_busch_byram_et al._2015, title={Testing the Ge detectors for the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR}, volume={61}, ISSN={1875-3892}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/J.PHPRO.2014.12.104}, DOI={10.1016/j.phpro.2014.12.104}, abstractNote={High purity germanium (HPGe) crystals will be used for the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR, where they serve as both the source and the detector for neutrinoless double beta decay. It is crucial for the experiment to understand the performance of the HPGe crystals. A variety of crystal properties are being investigated, including basic properties such as energy resolution, efficiency, uniformity, capacitance, leakage current and crystal axis orientation, as well as more sophisticated properties, e.g. pulse shapes and dead layer and transition layer distributions. In this talk, we will present our measurements that characterize the HPGe crystals. We will also discuss the our simulation package for the detector characterization setup, and show that additional information can be extracted from data-simulation comparisons.}, booktitle={Physics Procedia}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Xu, W. and Abgrall, N. and Aguayo, E. and Avignone, F.T., III and Barabash, A.S. and Bertrand, F.E. and Boswell, M. and Brudanin, V. and Busch, M. and Byram, D. and et al.}, year={2015}, pages={807–815} }
 @inproceedings{green_abgrall_aguayo_avignone_barabash_bertrand_boswell_brudanin_busch_byram_et al._2015, title={The MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR for 0 nu beta beta: Current status and future plans}, volume={61}, ISSN={1875-3892}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/J.PHPRO.2014.12.038}, DOI={10.1016/j.phpro.2014.12.038}, abstractNote={The MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR will search for neutrinoless-double-beta decay (0νββ) in 76Ge, while establishing the feasibility of a future tonne-scale germanium-based 0νββ experiment, and performing searches for new physics beyond the Standard Model. The experiment, currently under construction at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, SD, will consist of a pair of modular high-purity germanium detector arrays housed inside of a compact copper, lead, and polyethylene shield. Through a combination of strict materials qualifications and assay, low-background design, and powerful background rejection techniques, the Demonstrator aims to achieve a background rate in the 0νββ region of interest (ROI) of no more than 3 counts in the 0νββ-decay ROI per tonne of target isotope per year (cnts/(ROI-t-y)). The current status of the Demonstrator is discussed, as are plans for its completion.}, booktitle={Physics Procedia}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Green, M.P. and Abgrall, N. and Aguayo, E. and Avignone, F.T., III and Barabash, A.S. and Bertrand, F.E. and Boswell, M. and Brudanin, V. and Busch, M. and Byram, D. and et al.}, year={2015}, pages={232–240} }
 @inproceedings{abgrall_aguayo_avignone_barabash_bertrand_boswell_brudanin_busch_byram_caldwell_et al._2015, title={The MAJORANA low-noise low-background front-end electronics}, volume={61}, ISSN={1875-3892}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/J.PHPRO.2014.12.066}, DOI={10.1016/j.phpro.2014.12.066}, abstractNote={Abstract The MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR will search for the neutrinoless double beta decay (ββ(0ν)) of the isotope 76Ge with a mixed array of enriched and natural germanium detectors. In view of the next generation of tonne-scale germanium-based ββ(0ν)-decay searches, a major goal of the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR is to demonstrate a path forward to achieving a background rate at or below 1 cnt/(ROI-t-y) in the 4 keV region of interest (ROI) around the 2039-keV Q-value of the 76Ge ββ(0ν)-decay. Such a requirement on the background level significantly constrains the design of the readout electronics, which is further driven by noise and energy resolution performances. We present here the low-noise low- background front-end electronics developed for the low-capacitance p-type point contact (P-PC) germanium detectors of the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR. This resistive-feedback front-end, specifically designed to have low mass, is fabricated on a radioassayed fused-silica substrate where the feedback resistor consists of a sputtered thin film of high purity amorphous germanium and the feedback capacitor is based on the capacitance between gold conductive traces.}, booktitle={Physics Procedia}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Abgrall, N. and Aguayo, E. and Avignone, F.T., III and Barabash, A.S. and Bertrand, F.E. and Boswell, M. and Brudanin, V. and Busch, M. and Byram, D. and Caldwell, A.S. and et al.}, year={2015}, pages={654–657} }
 @article{abgrall_aguayo_avignone_barabash_bertrand_brudanin_busch_byram_caldwell_chan_et al._2015, title={The MAJORANA parts tracking database}, volume={779}, ISSN={0168-9002}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/J.NIMA.2015.01.001}, DOI={10.1016/j.nima.2015.01.001}, abstractNote={The Majorana Demonstrator is an ultra-low background physics experiment searching for the neutrinoless double beta decay of 76Ge. The Majorana Parts Tracking Database is used to record the history of components used in the construction of the Demonstrator. The tracking implementation takes a novel approach based on the schema-free database technology CouchDB. Transportation, storage, and processes undergone by parts such as machining or cleaning are linked to part records. Tracking parts provide a great logistics benefit and an important quality assurance reference during construction. In addition, the location history of parts provides an estimate of their exposure to cosmic radiation. A web application for data entry and a radiation exposure calculator have been developed as tools for achieving the extreme radio-purity required for this rare decay search.}, journal={Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors, and Associated Equipment}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Abgrall, N. and Aguayo, E. and Avignone, F.T., III and Barabash, A.S. and Bertrand, F.E. and Brudanin, V. and Busch, M. and Byram, D. and Caldwell, A.S. and Chan, Y-D. and et al.}, year={2015}, pages={52–62} }
 @article{abgrall_aguayo_avignone_barabash_bertrand_boswell_brudanin_busch_caldwell_chan_et al._2014, title={The MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay Experiment}, volume={2014}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84895105114&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1155/2014/365432}, abstractNote={The MajoranaDemonstratorwill search for the neutrinoless double-beta(ββ0ν)decay of the isotopeGe with a mixed array of enriched and natural germanium detectors. The observation of this rare decay would indicate that the neutrino is its own antiparticle, demonstrate that lepton number is not conserved, and provide information on the absolute mass scale of the neutrino. The Demonstratoris being assembled at the 4850-foot level of the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, South Dakota. The array will be situated in a low-background environment and surrounded by passive and active shielding. Here we describe the science goals of the Demonstratorand the details of its design.}, journal={Advances in High Energy Physics}, author={Abgrall, N. and Aguayo, E. and Avignone, F. T., III and Barabash, A.S. and Bertrand, F.E. and Boswell, M. and Brudanin, V. and Busch, M. and Caldwell, A.S. and Chan, Y.-D. and et al.}, year={2014}, pages={365432} }
 @article{sharapov_morris_makela_saunders_adamek_bagdasarova_broussard_cude-woods_fellers_geltenbort_et al._2013, title={Measurements of ultracold neutron upscattering and absorption in polyethylene and vanadium}, volume={88}, ISSN={1089-490X}, DOI={10.1103/physrevc.88.037601}, abstractNote={The study of neutron cross sections for elements used as efficient “absorbers” of ultracold neutrons (UCN) is crucial for many precision experiments in nuclear and particle physics, cosmology and gravity. In this context, “absorption” includes both the capture and upscattering of neutrons to the energies above the UCN energy region. The available data, especially for hydrogen, do not agree between themselves or with the theory. In this report we describe measurements performed at the Los Alamos National Laboratory UCN facility of the UCN upscattering cross sections for vanadium and for hydrogen in CH_2 using simultaneous measurements of the radiative capture cross sections for these elements. We measured σ_(up)=1972±130 b for hydrogen in CH_2, which is below theoretical expectations, and σ_(up)=25±9 b for vanadium, in agreement with the expectation for the neutron heating by thermal excitations in solids.}, number={3}, journal={PHYSICAL REVIEW C}, author={Sharapov, E. I. and Morris, C. L. and Makela, M. and Saunders, A. and Adamek, Evan R. and Bagdasarova, Y. and Broussard, L. J. and Cude-Woods, C. B. and Fellers, Deion E. and Geltenbort, Peter and et al.}, year={2013}, month={Sep} }
 @article{sharapov_morris_makela_saunders_adamek_broussard_cude-woods_fellers_geltenbort_hartl_et al._2013, title={Upscattering of ultracold neutrons from the polymer [C6H12](n)}, volume={88}, ISSN={1089-490X}, DOI={10.1103/physrevc.88.064605}, abstractNote={It is generally accepted that the main cause of ultracold neutron (UCN) losses in storage traps is upscattering to the thermal energy range by hydrogen adsorbed on the surface of the trap walls. However, the data on which this conclusion is based are poor and contradictory. Here we report a measurement, performed at the Los Alamos National Laboratory UCN source, of the average energy of the flux of upscattered neutrons after the interaction of UCN with hydrogen bound in the semicrystalline polymer PMP (trade name TPX), [C_6H_(12)]_n. Our analysis, performed with the mcnp code which applies the neutron-scattering law to UCN upscattered by bound hydrogen in semicrystalline polyethylene, [C_2H_4]_n, leads us to a flux average energy value of 26±3 meV, in contradiction to previously reported experimental values of 10 to 13 meV and in agreement with the theoretical models of neutron heating implemented in MCNP.}, number={6}, journal={PHYSICAL REVIEW C}, author={Sharapov, E. I. and Morris, C. L. and Makela, M. and Saunders, A. and Adamek, Evan R. and Broussard, L. J. and Cude-Woods, C. B. and Fellers, Deion E. and Geltenbort, Peter and Hartl, M. and et al.}, year={2013}, month={Dec} }