The MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR: A search for neutrinoless double-beta decay of germanium-76*

Observation of neutrinoless double-beta decay ($0\nu\beta\beta$) could determine whether the neutrino is a Majorana particle and may provide information on neutrino mass. The \textsc{Majorana} Collaboration~\footnote{V.E. Guiseppe (2010) arXiv:1101.0119} will search for $0\nu\beta\beta$ of $^{76}$Ge in an array of germanium detectors enriched to 86\% in $^{76}$Ge. Germanium detectors are a well-understood technology and have the benefits of excellent energy resolution, a high Q-value, and the ability to act as source and detector. The p-type point contact germanium detectors chosen by the \textsc{Majorana} Collaboration provide low noise, low energy threshold, and some ability to distinguish between the signal and background events. \textsc{Majorana} is constructing the \textsc{Demonstrator}, which will be used to conduct research and development toward a tonne-scale Ge experiment. The \textsc{Demonstrator} will be installed deep underground and will contain 40 kg of Ge deployed in an ultra-low-background shielded environment.