Naturally occurring 32Si and low-background silicon dark matter detectors
Abstract
Here, the naturally occurring radioisotope 32Si represents a potentially limiting background in future dark matter direct-detection experiments. We investigate sources of 32Si and the vectors by which it comes to reside in silicon crystals used for fabrication of radiation detectors. We infer that the 32Si 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 32Si-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 32Si. To quantitatively evaluate the 32Si 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 32Si, 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.
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1420890
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1548746
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA-127795
Journal ID: ISSN 0927-6505; PII: S0927650517302529; TRN: US1801504
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Astroparticle Physics
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 99; Journal ID: ISSN 0927-6505
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS; Dark matter; Direct detection; Silicon; 32Si assay
Citation Formats
Orrell, John L., Arnquist, Isaac J., Bliss, Mary, Bunker, Raymond, and Finch, Zachary S. Naturally occurring 32Si and low-background silicon dark matter detectors. United States: N. p., 2018.
Web. doi:10.1016/j.astropartphys.2018.02.005.
Orrell, John L., Arnquist, Isaac J., Bliss, Mary, Bunker, Raymond, & Finch, Zachary S. Naturally occurring 32Si and low-background silicon dark matter detectors. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.astropartphys.2018.02.005
Orrell, John L., Arnquist, Isaac J., Bliss, Mary, Bunker, Raymond, and Finch, Zachary S. Sat .
"Naturally occurring 32Si and low-background silicon dark matter detectors". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.astropartphys.2018.02.005. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1420890.
@article{osti_1420890,
title = {Naturally occurring 32Si and low-background silicon dark matter detectors},
author = {Orrell, John L. and Arnquist, Isaac J. and Bliss, Mary and Bunker, Raymond and Finch, Zachary S.},
abstractNote = {Here, the naturally occurring radioisotope 32Si represents a potentially limiting background in future dark matter direct-detection experiments. We investigate sources of 32Si and the vectors by which it comes to reside in silicon crystals used for fabrication of radiation detectors. We infer that the 32Si 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 32Si-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 32Si. To quantitatively evaluate the 32Si 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 32Si, 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.},
doi = {10.1016/j.astropartphys.2018.02.005},
journal = {Astroparticle Physics},
number = ,
volume = 99,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Feb 10 00:00:00 EST 2018},
month = {Sat Feb 10 00:00:00 EST 2018}
}
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Figures / Tables:
Figure 1: Conjectured transport and accumulation of cosmogenically created 32Si in the terrestrial environment. Cosmic rays interact with 40Ar in the atmosphere to spallate 32Si that is then transported into the terrestrial environment via precipitation, leading to accumulation of 32Si in: A) streams and settling ponds that may be sourcesmore »
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