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Ultra-low background measurements in a large volume underground detector
Astroparticle Physics Volume 8, Issue 3, February 1998, Pages 141-157
(Submitted 30 September 1997, Accepted 23 October 1997).

doi:10.1016/S0927-6505(97)00050-9   [local copy]


Abstract

A large volume (4.8 m3) liquid scintillator detector has been running in Hall C of the Gran Sasso Underground Laboratory since February 1995. This detector is called the “Counting Test Facility” (CTF).  The main goal of the detector facility is the measurement of ultra-low background levels in scintillators and the development of processes able to purify them at this level. The detector has been designed to have exceptional sensitivity using a variety of methods to identify backgrounds.  With the CTF, records were achieved in the domain of low background large volume detectors.  Limits of  (3.5 ± 1.3) × 10−16 g/g  and  (4.4−1.2+1.5 ) × 10−16 g/g  for the  238U  and  232Th  daughters, respectively, and  (1.85 ± 0.13 ± 0.01) × 10−18  for the isotopic abundance of  14C  relative to  12C  were obtained.  These results are very encouraging and point towards the feasibility of low energy, real time scintillation detectors for solar neutrinos, such as Borexino.

 

Ultra-low background measurements in a large volume underground detector

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