The design, construction, and initial characterization of an ultra-low-background gas-proportional counting system

Seifert, Allen; Aalseth, Craig E.; Day, Anthony R.; Fuller, Erin S.; Hoppe, E. W.; Keillor, Martin E.; Mace, Emily K.; Overman, C.T.; Warren, G.

doi:10.1007/s10967-012-2059-5

Cited by 25 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…The isolated and concentrated sample could then be loaded (as a gas) into a low-background gas proportional counter for detection of the 32 P betas (using, e.g., the counters described in Ref. [75]). This approach has the advantage of involving limited handling and reagents, which should reduce the potential for introduction of the type of environmental radiocontaminants that will be a persistent challenge in the wet-chemistry methods described in Sec.…”

Section: Separation Of P-32 Via Gaseous Distillationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Naturally occurring 32Si and low-background silicon dark matter detectors

Orrell

Arnquist

Bliss

et al. 2018

Astroparticle Physics

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The naturally occurring radioisotope 32 Si represents a potentially limiting background in future dark matter directdetection experiments. We investigate sources of 32 Si and the vectors by which it comes to reside in silicon crystals used for fabrication of radiation detectors. We infer that the 32 Si concentration in commercial single-crystal silicon is likely variable, dependent upon the specific geologic and hydrologic history of the source (or sources) of silicon "ore" and the details of the silicon-refinement process. The silicon production industry is large, highly segmented by refining step, and multifaceted in terms of final product type, from which we conclude that production of 32 Si-mitigated crystals requires both targeted silicon material selection and a dedicated refinement-through-crystal-production process. We review options for source material selection, including quartz from an underground source and silicon isotopically reduced in 32 Si. To quantitatively evaluate the 32 Si content in silicon metal and precursor materials, we propose analytic methods employing chemical processing and radiometric measurements. Ultimately, it appears feasible to produce silicon detectors with low levels of 32 Si, though significant assay method development is required to validate this claim and thereby enable a quality assurance program during an actual controlled silicon-detector production cycle.

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Section: Separation Of P-32 Via Gaseous Distillationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Naturally occurring 32Si and low-background silicon dark matter detectors

Orrell

Arnquist

Bliss

et al. 2018

Astroparticle Physics

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“…Ar was performed at PNNL using a low-background internal-source gas proportional counter. The detector utilizes high-purity electroformed copper and a niobium anode wire to reduce the background due to detector materials (Seifert et al, 2013). The design and construction of the detectors is detailed in Aalseth et al, 2009.…”

Section: Analysis Of 37mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The design and construction of the detectors is detailed in Aalseth et al, 2009. The measurements of 37 Ar were made in PNNL's Shallow Underground Laboratory using the Ultra-Low-Background Counting System detailed in Aalseth et al, 2012 andSeifert et al, 2013.…”

Section: Analysis Of 37mentioning

confidence: 99%

Production and release rate of 37Ar from the UT TRIGA Mark-II research reactor

Johnson

Biegalski

Artnak

et al. 2017

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

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Air samples were taken at various locations around The University of Texas at Austin's TRIGA Mark II research reactor and analyzed to determine the concentrations of Ar,Ar, and Xe present. The measured ratio ofAr/Ar and historical records of Ar releases were then utilized to estimate an annual average release rate ofAr from the reactor facility. Using the calculated release rate, atmospheric transport modeling was performed in order to determine the potential impact of research reactor operations on nearby treaty verification activities. Results suggest that small research reactors (∼1 MWt) do not release Ar in concentrations measurable by currently proposed OSI detection equipment.

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“…After separation and purification, the argon fraction of the sample(s) was loaded into a gas proportional counter and taken to PNNL's shallow underground laboratory and counted [13].…”

Section: Ar Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Noble gas migration experiment to support the detection of underground nuclear explosions

Olsen

Kirkham

Woods

et al. 2015

J Radioanal Nucl Chem

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A Noble Gas Migration Experiment injected 127 Xe, 37 Ar, and sulfur hexafluoride into a former underground nuclear explosion shot cavity. These tracer gases were allowed to migrate from the cavity to near-surface and surface sampling locations and were detected in soil gas samples collected using various on-site inspection sampling approaches. Based on this experiment we came to the following conclusions: (1) SF 6 was enriched in all of the samples relative to both 37 Ar and 127 Xe. (2) There were no significant differences in the 127 Xe to 37 Ar ratio in the samples relative to the ratio injected into the cavity. (3) The migratory behavior of the chemical and radiotracers did not fit typical diffusion modeling scenarios.

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The design, construction, and initial characterization of an ultra-low-background gas-proportional counting system

Cited by 25 publications

References 7 publications

Naturally occurring 32Si and low-background silicon dark matter detectors

Naturally occurring 32Si and low-background silicon dark matter detectors

Production and release rate of 37Ar from the UT TRIGA Mark-II research reactor

Noble gas migration experiment to support the detection of underground nuclear explosions

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