The Majorana Demonstrator is a neutrinoless double-beta decay search consisting of a low-background modular array of high-purity germanium detectors, $sim2/3$ of which are enriched to 88% in $^{76}$Ge. The experiment is also searching for double-beta decay of $^{76}$Ge to excited states (e.s.) in $^{76}$Se. $^{76}$Ge can decay into three daughter states of $^{76}$Se, with clear event signatures consisting of a $betabeta$-decay followed by the prompt emission of one or two $gamma$-rays. This results with high probability in multi-detector coincidences. The granularity of the Demonstrator detector array enables powerful discrimination of this event signature from backgrounds. Using 41.9~kg-y of isotopic exposure, the Demonstrator has set world leading limits for each e.s. decay of $^{76}$Ge, with 90% CL lower half-life limits in the range of $(0.75-4.0)times10^{24}$~y. In particular, for the $2 u$ transition to the first $0^+$ e.s. of $^{76}$Se, a lower half-life limit of $7.5times10^{23}$~y at 90% CL was achieved.
Download