We report the complete GNO solar neutrino results for the measuring periods GNO III, GNO II, and GNO I. The result for GNO III (last 15 solar runs) is 54.3−9.3+9.9(stat)±2.3(syst)SNU(1σ) or ...54.3−9.6+10.2(incl. syst) SNU (1σ) with errors combined. The GNO experiment is now terminated after altogether 58 solar exposure runs that were performed between 20 May 1998 and 9 April 2003. The combined result for GNO (I+II+III) is 62.9−5.3+5.5(stat)±2.5(syst) SNU (1σ) or 62.9−5.9+6.0 SNU (1σ) with errors combined in quadrature. Overall, gallium based solar observations at LNGS (first in GALLEX, later in GNO) lasted from 14 May 1991 through 9 April 2003. The joint result from 123 runs in GNO and GALLEX is 69.3±5.5(incl. syst) SNU (1σ). The distribution of the individual run results is consistent with the hypothesis of a neutrino flux that is constant in time. Implications from the data in particle- and astrophysics are reiterated.
Two low-background setups for material screening based on HPGe detectors were built in the Garching Underground Laboratory with an overburden of ~10m.w.e. They include several layers of passive ...shielding as well as an active muon veto. The first setup (GEM) comprises a 150% efficiency HPGe detector which can optionally be surrounded by a NaI(Tl) scintillation detector that serves as anti-Compton veto. The second setup (LoAx) consists of two smaller HPGe detectors which are arranged face-to-face to cover a larger solid angle around the sample and to allow coincidence measurements.
For a 5.6kg piece of copper after 11 days of measurement we have reached a sensitivity for 226Ra and 228Ra/228Th of ~5mBqkg−1 with the GEM setup. In the LoAx setup we have achieved limits of less than 100mBqkg−1 for 234Th and 210Pb with a 156g sample of PPO wavelength shifter after 18 days of measurement.
•Two setups for low-level γ-ray spectrometry were built.•The background count rate between 100 and 2700keV is 5700day−1.•Sensitivities of 5mBq/kg were achieved for 226Ra and 228Th.•Sensitivities of less than 100mBqkg−1 were achieved for 210Pb and 234Th.
We discuss a small-scale experiment, called
ν
-cleus, for the first detection of coherent neutrino–nucleus scattering by probing nuclear-recoil energies down to the 10 eV regime. The detector ...consists of low-threshold CaWO
4
and Al
2
O
3
calorimeter arrays with a total mass of about 10 g and several cryogenic veto detectors operated at millikelvin temperatures. Realizing a fiducial volume and a multi-element target, the detector enables active discrimination of
γ
, neutron and surface backgrounds. A first prototype Al
2
O
3
device, operated above ground in a setup without shielding, has achieved an energy threshold of
∼
20
eV and further improvements are in reach. A sensitivity study for the detection of coherent neutrino scattering at nuclear power plants shows a unique discovery potential (5
σ
) within a measuring time of
≲
2
weeks. Furthermore, a site at a thermal research reactor and the use of a radioactive neutrino source are investigated. With this technology, real-time monitoring of nuclear power plants is feasible.