Low-background {sup 3}He proportional counters for use in the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory

Journal Article · Sun Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1999 · IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/23.790695· OSTI ID:684549

Browne, M C ^[1]; Bowles, T J; Brice, S J ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA (United States). Nuclear Physics Lab.
2. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States); and others

Current solar neutrino detectors measure a considerably lower flux of electron-flavor neutrinos than predicted by solar models. This could be an indication of neutrino oscillations, which would provide direct evidence that neutrinos have mass. The Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO) was designed to detect all flavors of neutrinos, and will provide a rigorous test of this theory. The SNO detector`s heavy water target gives it the unique ability to detect all non-sterile neutrino flavors via the neutral-current (NC) break-up of the deuteron. This NC interaction liberates a neutron which may be detected with an array of discrete {sup 3}He proportional counters. The strict radioactivity requirements imposed by the need for low backgrounds dictate the use of ultra-pure materials and processes in building these counters. Additionally, they must survive in the heavy water environment for several years. The design, construction, and testing of these unique counters are described.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• OSTI ID: 684549
• Report Number(s): CONF-981110--
• Journal Information: IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science Journal Issue: 4Pt1 Vol. 46; ISSN IETNAE; ISSN 0018-9499
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

44 INSTRUMENTATION
INCLUDING NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE DETECTORS
DESIGN
HE-3 COUNTERS
NEUTRINO DETECTION
NEUTRINO OSCILLATION
NEUTRON DETECTION
PERFORMANCE TESTING
SOLAR NEUTRINOS
SUDBURY NEUTRINO OBSERVATORY