利用XIA UltraLo-1800阿尔法粒子探测器增强Boulby地下实验室的材料筛选能力
Enhancing Material Screening at Boulby Underground Laboratory with XIA UltraLo-1800 Alpha Particle Detectors
AI总结：
该研究评估了Boulby地下实验室的XIA UltraLo-1800探测器，其能量重建稳定，通过PTFE内衬和清洁规程显著降低背景，有效识别$^{210}$Po污染，提升材料筛选精度。
摘要：
位于Boulby地下实验室的Boulby地下筛选（BUGS）设施通过安装两台XIA UltraLo-1800阿尔法粒子探测器，显著提升了其材料筛选能力。本研究对其中一台探测器进行了全面评估，该探测器在Boulby地下实验室地下1,100米处运行，该位置提供了显著的宇宙辐射屏蔽，并维持着2.30 ± 0.03 Bq/m$^3$的低环境氡活度。我们的评估聚焦于能量重建精度、背景辐射率和运行稳定性。XIA UltraLo-1800探测器在能量重建方面表现出卓越的稳定性，四年内变化小于0.1 MeV。此外，在样品托盘中采用石墨填充的PTFE内衬，与原始不锈钢托盘测量相比，背景辐射水平显著降低，实现了0.15 ± 0.01 α/cm$^2$/khr的平均活度。在氡暴露前后进行的铜样品分析表明，该探测器能够准确识别和量化$^{210}$Po污染。通过实施本文所述的严格清洁程序和规程，我们观察到$^{210}$Po活度从0.504 ± 0.022 mBq降至0.336 ± 0.013 mBq，突显了精细清洁方法在最小化敏感实验背景中的关键作用。此外，高活度样品测量后观察到的背景活度水平升高，说明需要仔细管理分析条件和环境以维持低背景水平。这些结果凸显了XIA UltraLo-1800在提高材料分析精度方面的潜力，这对于减少稀有事件实验中的背景干扰至关重要。
英文摘要：
The Boulby UnderGround Screening (BUGS) facility, located at the Boulby Underground Laboratory, has significantly advanced its material screening capabilities by installing two XIA UltraLo-1800 alpha particle detectors. This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of one of these detectors, operated 1,100 meters underground at the Boulby Underground Laboratory, which provides significant shielding from cosmic radiation and maintains a low ambient radon activity of 2.30 $\pm$ 0.03 Bq/m$^3$. Our evaluation focuses on energy reconstruction accuracy, background radiation rates, and operational stability. The XIA UltraLo-1800 detector demonstrates remarkable stability in energy reconstruction, with less than 0.1 MeV variation over four years. Moreover, the implementation of a graphite-filled PTFE liner in the sample tray resulted in a significant reduction in background radiation levels compared to measurements with the original stainless steel tray, achieving an average activity of 0.15 $\pm$ 0.01 $α$/cm$^2$/khr. Copper sample assays, performed before and after radon exposure, demonstrated the detector's ability to accurately identify and quantify $^{210}$Po contamination. By implementing the robust cleanliness procedures and protocols described in this article, we observed a reduction in $^{210}$Po activity from 0.504 $\pm$ 0.022 mBq to 0.336 $\pm$ 0.013 mBq, highlighting the crucial role of refined cleaning methods in minimizing background for sensitive experiments. Additionally, observations of elevated background activity levels post-high-activity sample measurements illustrate the need for careful management of assay conditions and environment to maintain low background levels. These results highlight the potential of the XIA UltraLo-1800 in enhancing the precision of material assays essential for reducing background interference in rare event experiments.
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