Background simulations and shielding calculations

Journal Article · Wed Apr 27 00:00:00 EDT 2011 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3579581· OSTI ID:21513204

Kudryavtsev, Vitaly A ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S3 7RH (United Kingdom)

Key improvements in the sensitivity of the underground particle astrophysics experiments can only be achieved if the radiation causing background events in detectors is well understood and proper measures are taken to suppress it. The background radiation arising from radioactivity and cosmic-ray muons is discussed here together with the methods of its suppression. Different shielding designs are considered to attenuate gamma-rays and neutrons coming from radioactivity in rock and lab walls. Purity of materials used in detector construction is analysed and the background event rates due to the presence of radioactive isotopes in detector components are discussed. Event rates in detectors caused by muon-induced neutrons with and without active veto systems are presented leading to the requirements for the depth of an underground laboratory and the efficiency of the veto system.

• OSTI ID: 21513204
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1338, Issue 1; Conference: LRT-2010: Topical workshop on low radioactivity techniques, Sudbury (Canada), 28-29 Aug 2010; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3579581; (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
BACKGROUND RADIATION
COSMIC RADIATION
EFFICIENCY
FISSION PRODUCTS
GAMMA RADIATION
IMPURITIES
MUONS
NEUTRONS
NONLUMINOUS MATTER
PARTICLES
RADIOACTIVITY
RADIOISOTOPES
ROCKS
SENSITIVITY
SHIELDING
SIMULATION
UNDERGROUND
BARYONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
HADRONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
ISOTOPES
LEPTONS
LEVELS
MATERIALS
MATTER
NUCLEONS
RADIATIONS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS