Cross sections for ~(68)Ge production in natural- and enriched-germanium targets irradiated with protons of energy 100 MeV and background in experiments devoted to searches for the 2β0ν decay of ~(76)Ge

摘要

The rate of ~(68)Ge production at sea level under the effect of the nuclear component of cosmic rays is calculated. The calculation is based on the experimental values of the cross sections for ~(68)Ge production in natural- and enriched-germanium targets (enrichment in ~(76)Ge) irradiated with high-energy protons. The background from the decays of ~(68)Ge can be a serious problem in new-generation experiments devoted to searches for the 2β0ν decay of ~(76)Ge.