Background reduction in neutrinoless double beta decay experiments using segmented detectors—A Monte Carlo study for the GERDA setup

Abstract The identification of gamma radiation is essential for a new generation of double beta decay experiments. The GERmanium Detector Array, GERDA, located at the INFN Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS) in Italy, uses germanium, enriched in Ge 76 , as source and detector, and aims at a background level of less than 10 - 3 counts / ( kg keV y ) in the region of the Q β β -value. For the first time highly segmented detectors will be installed in a double beta decay experiment. A detailed GEANT4 Monte Carlo study was performed to evaluate the background reduction achievable by anti-coincidence cuts between crystals and segments. Within the overall geometry of GERDA, the segmentation scheme considered here provides around an order of magnitude of extra background reduction.