Background by neutron activation in GERDA

The observation of the neutrinoless double beta decay is a proof of the Majorana nature of the neutrino. The long half-life of this decay requires experiments of very low background rates in the region of interest at Qββ. Prompt γ-rays after neutron capture on germanium and the β-decay of 77Ge contribute to the background in experiments using 76Ge for the search of the neutrinoless double beta decay. The poorly known prompt γ-ray spectra and the neutron capture cross sections for the (n,γ) reactions of 74Ge and 76Ge were measured at the research reactor FRM II (Munich). The obtained data are needed in MC simulations for qualitative and quantitative background prediction in the Gerda experiment. The data and their implication on the background in Gerda are presented.