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Title: Radioactive Background Evaluation by Atom Counting

Abstract

We propose a new method of measuring 85Kr background levels by direct counting of impurity atoms. The beta-decay of 85Kr is a significant radioactive background for experiments that use liquified noble gases to search for dark matter and measure the low-energy solar neutrino flux. While there are several proposed methods for reducing Kr levels in these experiments, an independent technique is needed for measuring very low Kr levels. By selectively exciting Kr atoms to a metastable state, capturing them in a magneto-optical trap (MOT), and detecting fluorescence from the trapped atoms, individual Kr atoms can be counted with a high signal-to-noise ratio. This approach offers both higher sensitivity and shorter measurement times than more conventional techniques, with an estimated sensitivity of 3 x 10-14 in only 3 hours of integration.

Authors:
 [1];  [2]
  1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Union College, Schenectady, NY 12308 (United States)
  2. Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
20719227
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
AIP Conference Proceedings
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 785; Journal Issue: 1; Conference: LRT 2004: Topical workshop on low radioactivity techniques, Sudbury, ON (Canada), 12-14 Dec 2004; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2060464; (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0094-243X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS; ATOMS; BETA DECAY; FLUORESCENCE; IMPURITIES; KRYPTON; KRYPTON 85; METASTABLE STATES; NONLUMINOUS MATTER; RADIATION PRESSURE; SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO; SOLAR NEUTRINOS; TRAPPING; TRAPS

Citation Formats

Orzel, Chad, and McKinsey, Daniel. Radioactive Background Evaluation by Atom Counting. United States: N. p., 2005. Web. doi:10.1063/1.2060464.
Orzel, Chad, & McKinsey, Daniel. Radioactive Background Evaluation by Atom Counting. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2060464
Orzel, Chad, and McKinsey, Daniel. 2005. "Radioactive Background Evaluation by Atom Counting". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2060464.
@article{osti_20719227,
title = {Radioactive Background Evaluation by Atom Counting},
author = {Orzel, Chad and McKinsey, Daniel},
abstractNote = {We propose a new method of measuring 85Kr background levels by direct counting of impurity atoms. The beta-decay of 85Kr is a significant radioactive background for experiments that use liquified noble gases to search for dark matter and measure the low-energy solar neutrino flux. While there are several proposed methods for reducing Kr levels in these experiments, an independent technique is needed for measuring very low Kr levels. By selectively exciting Kr atoms to a metastable state, capturing them in a magneto-optical trap (MOT), and detecting fluorescence from the trapped atoms, individual Kr atoms can be counted with a high signal-to-noise ratio. This approach offers both higher sensitivity and shorter measurement times than more conventional techniques, with an estimated sensitivity of 3 x 10-14 in only 3 hours of integration.},
doi = {10.1063/1.2060464},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/20719227}, journal = {AIP Conference Proceedings},
issn = {0094-243X},
number = 1,
volume = 785,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Sep 08 00:00:00 EDT 2005},
month = {Thu Sep 08 00:00:00 EDT 2005}
}