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Title: Low level counting from meteorites to neutrinos

Abstract

The development in low level counting at Heidelberg with NaI(Tl) crystals, proportional counters and Germanium detectors is reviewed throughout the course of almost 40 years of experience. Research subjects changed from cosmogenic radionuclides in meteorites to solar neutrinos and double beta decay. Driven by screening measurements for these rare event experiments, the sensitivity in single gamma counting has gained almost 3 orders of magnitude. With Ge spectrometry the {mu}Bq/kg range is now accessible. It is discussed how further improvements can be realized. There is potential to reach a sensitivity at the level of 10 to 100 nBq/kg for cryogenic liquid type Gespectroscopy, a technique which the next generation 76Ge double beta decay experiment GERDA is based on.

Authors:
 [1]
  1. Max-Planck-Institute for Nuclear Physics, POB 103980, D-69029 Heidelberg (Germany)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
20719245
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: 10.1063/1.2060451; (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:
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; COSMIC NEUTRINOS; DOUBLE BETA DECAY; GAMMA SPECTROSCOPY; GE SEMICONDUCTOR DETECTORS; GERMANIUM 76; LOW LEVEL COUNTING; METEORITES; PROPORTIONAL COUNTERS; RADIOISOTOPES; SENSITIVITY; SODIUM IODIDES; SOLAR NEUTRINOS

Citation Formats

Heusser, Gerd. Low level counting from meteorites to neutrinos. United States: N. p., 2005. Web. doi:10.1063/1.2060451.
Heusser, Gerd. Low level counting from meteorites to neutrinos. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2060451
Heusser, Gerd. 2005. "Low level counting from meteorites to neutrinos". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2060451.
@article{osti_20719245,
title = {Low level counting from meteorites to neutrinos},
author = {Heusser, Gerd},
abstractNote = {The development in low level counting at Heidelberg with NaI(Tl) crystals, proportional counters and Germanium detectors is reviewed throughout the course of almost 40 years of experience. Research subjects changed from cosmogenic radionuclides in meteorites to solar neutrinos and double beta decay. Driven by screening measurements for these rare event experiments, the sensitivity in single gamma counting has gained almost 3 orders of magnitude. With Ge spectrometry the {mu}Bq/kg range is now accessible. It is discussed how further improvements can be realized. There is potential to reach a sensitivity at the level of 10 to 100 nBq/kg for cryogenic liquid type Gespectroscopy, a technique which the next generation 76Ge double beta decay experiment GERDA is based on.},
doi = {10.1063/1.2060451},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/20719245}, 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}
}