Identification of photons in double beta-decay experiments using segmented germanium detectors—Studies with a GERDA phase II prototype detector

The sensitivity of experiments searching for neutrinoless double beta-decay of germanium was so far limited by the background induced by external γγ-radiation. Segmented germanium detectors can be used to identify photons and thus reduce this background component.The GERmanium Detector Array, GERDA, will use highly segmented germanium detectors in its second phase. The identification of photonic events is investigated using a prototype detector. A focus is placed on the comparison with Monte Carlo data.