The upgraded low-background germanium counting facility Gator for high-sensitivity γ-ray spectrometry

Abstract

Abstract We describe the upgrade and performance of the high-purity germanium counting facility Gator, which is dedicated to low-background γ-ray spectrometry. Gator is operated at the Gran Sasso Underground Laboratory in Italy, at an average depth of 3600 meter water equivalent, and employed for material screening and selection in ultra-low background, rare-event search experiments in astroparticle physics. The detector is equipped with a passive shield made of layers of copper, lead and polyethylene, and the sample cavity is purged with gaseous nitrogen maintained at positive pressure for radon suppression. After upgrading its enclosure, the background rate is (82.0 ± 0.7) counts/(kg·day) in the energy region 100 keV to 2700 keV, a 20% reduction compared to the previously reported rate. We show the stability of various operation parameters as a function of time. We also summarize the sample analysis procedure, and demonstrate Gator's sensitivity by examining one material sample, a candidate photosensor for the DARWIN experiment.