Heidelberg 2015 – scientific programme

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HK: Fachverband Physik der Hadronen und Kerne

HK 71: Astroparticle Physics 5

HK 71.3: Talk

Friday, March 27, 2015, 15:30–15:45, M/HS4

Optimization of a ^83mKr tracer method for the characterization of xenon gas dynamics — •Sergej Schneider, Gianmarco Bruno, Alexander Fieguth, Michael Murra, Stephan Rosendahl, and Christian Weinheimer — Institut für Kernphysik, WWU Münster

In order to achieve the aimed sensitivity of 2*10⁻⁴⁷cm² for the dark matter search with the XENON1T detector, it is crucial to remove the radioactive isotope ⁸⁵Kr from the detector material xenon to a sub ppt level. For this a cryogenic distillation column was constructed at the University of Münster.

To allow a quick live characterization of the column performance a doping method was developed using the relatively short living ^83mKr isotope. Its decay characteristics are beneficial both for its detection in xenon with a photomultiplier tube as well as the prevention of contamination since due to its half life of 1.83 h it does not contaminate the respective system on a relevant time scale. Furthermore a custom made detector was developed for the detection of the scintillation created by a ^83mKr decay in gaseous xenon. Due to the very high separation factor of the cryogenic distillation column, the detectors had to be optimized in their signal to background ratio to provide a profile characterization of the column. Studies for coincidence measurements as well as for reflectivity properties of Teflon were considered.

This work for XENON1T was funded by BMBF and by HAP.