Conveners : Maryvonne De Jesus (IP2I), Silvia Scorza (LPSC-LSM), Jose Busto (CPPM), Hichem Tedjditi (CPPM)

Presentation

The mission of WP2 is to promote expertise exchange on background noise reduction and instrumental developments, which are critical elements for ultra-sensitive experiments in underground environments. Particular attention will be given to radon management, which remains a particularly critical challenge. WP2 will also focus on training the next generation of experts in ultra-low background measurement techniques, a key ingredient for the long-term success of underground physics in France. To this end, WP2 will support the organization of schools and training sessions dedicated to radiopurity and background noise reduction. Additionally, WP2 may rely on a designated « ultra-low radioactivity » reference person within each major experiment involving the French community. This approach will improve communication and encourage broader engagement on these issues across the various collaborations. WP2 will also seek to foster interactions with underground laboratories worldwide.

Jose Busto (CPPM)

Professeur

Maryvonne De Jésus (IP2I Lyon)

Chargée de recherche

Silvia Scorza (LPSC)

Directrice de recherche

Five topics in relation to Low Radioactivity Techniques have been identified which will be discussed in the form of round tables. Each round table will be dealt with over several sessions. Each session will last a maximum of 2 hours. The time between 2 sessions of the same topic will be at least 1 month but may go beyond. Several subjects can be carried out in parallel. The objective is to have 1 session every 4 to 6 weeks.

We will start with the NAA round table by the end of september 2021. The exact date will be sent by e-mail to the duphy-wp2 mailing list. If you want to attend these round tables and are not yet on the list send an email to gdr-duphy-wp2 at ip2i.in2p3.fr .

Any other topic that you would like to be treated in the scope of these round tables is welcome.

This technique necessitates a strong neutron source (e.g. a nuclear reactor) and a gamma spectrometer. According to the decay time of the studied isotope, the gamma spectrometry can be done in a laboratory distant from the neutron source. These different points will be discussed during the dedicated round tables.

• Monica Sisti Neutron Activation Analysis for low background experiments

In this section we will make an inventory of available facilities and techniques for α, β and γ spectrometry 

• Alpha and beta facilities (underground or/and shallow sites)
• Detection techniques for alpha and beta 
• …

• Pia Loaiza Screening activities with HPGe detectors 
• Hector Gomez-Maluenda BiPo: a dedicated radiopurity detector for planar samples

In this round table, we will make an inventory of the facilities and techniques available for ICP-MS, GD-MS,…  measurements of trace amounts of, for example, U and Th with very small samples in a short time.

• Frederic Perrot LA-ICPMS

In this section we will discuss the main problems related to the presence of radon in the experiments (emanation and transport) as well as the purification and trapping techniques.We will consider the facilities available for the measurement of emanation and diffusion, as well as existing or necessary developments for future experiments.

• Radon emanation : facilities, emanation studies 
• Radon transport : diffusion facilities, general studies
• Radon capture : anti-radon facilities, new adsorbents
• Surface contamination

• José Busto Radon 

In this section, we will discuss different underground facilities, from very deep, used for the study of very rare physical processes, to small laboratories of a few m.w.e. suitable for low-level radioactivity measurements.

• Silvia Scorza  Material@SNOLAB

• Cleaning techniques
• Cosmogenic activation