European Physical Journal C: Particles and Fields (May 2017)
Removing krypton from xenon by cryogenic distillation to the ppq level
- E. Aprile,
- J. Aalbers,
- F. Agostini,
- M. Alfonsi,
- F. D. Amaro,
- M. Anthony,
- F. Arneodo,
- P. Barrow,
- L. Baudis,
- B. Bauermeister,
- M. L. Benabderrahmane,
- T. Berger,
- P. A. Breur,
- A. Brown,
- E. Brown,
- S. Bruenner,
- G. Bruno,
- R. Budnik,
- L. Bütikofer,
- J. Calvén,
- J. M. R. Cardoso,
- M. Cervantes,
- D. Cichon,
- D. Coderre,
- A. P. Colijn,
- J. Conrad,
- J. P. Cussonneau,
- M. P. Decowski,
- P. de Perio,
- P. Di Gangi,
- A. Di Giovanni,
- S. Diglio,
- E. Duchovni,
- G. Eurin,
- J. Fei,
- A. D. Ferella,
- A. Fieguth,
- D. Franco,
- W. Fulgione,
- A. Gallo Rosso,
- M. Galloway,
- F. Gao,
- M. Garbini,
- C. Geis,
- L. W. Goetzke,
- L. Grandi,
- Z. Greene,
- C. Grignon,
- C. Hasterok,
- E. Hogenbirk,
- C. Huhmann,
- R. Itay,
- B. Kaminsky,
- G. Kessler,
- A. Kish,
- H. Landsman,
- R. F. Lang,
- D. Lellouch,
- L. Levinson,
- M. Le Calloch,
- Q. Lin,
- S. Lindemann,
- M. Lindner,
- J. A. M. Lopes,
- A. Manfredini,
- I. Maris,
- T. Marrodán Undagoitia,
- J. Masbou,
- F. V. Massoli,
- D. Masson,
- D. Mayani,
- Y. Meng,
- M. Messina,
- K. Micheneau,
- B. Miguez,
- A. Molinario,
- M. Murra,
- J. Naganoma,
- K. Ni,
- U. Oberlack,
- S. E. A. Orrigo,
- P. Pakarha,
- B. Pelssers,
- R. Persiani,
- F. Piastra,
- J. Pienaar,
- M.-C. Piro,
- V. Pizzella,
- G. Plante,
- N. Priel,
- L. Rauch,
- S. Reichard,
- C. Reuter,
- A. Rizzo,
- S. Rosendahl,
- N. Rupp,
- R. Saldanha,
- J. M. F. dos Santos,
- G. Sartorelli,
- M. Scheibelhut,
- S. Schindler,
- J. Schreiner,
- M. Schumann,
- L. Scotto Lavina,
- M. Selvi,
- P. Shagin,
- E. Shockley,
- M. Silva,
- H. Simgen,
- M. v. Sivers,
- A. Stein,
- D. Thers,
- A. Tiseni,
- G. Trinchero,
- C. Tunnell,
- N. Upole,
- H. Wang,
- Y. Wei,
- C. Weinheimer,
- J. Wulf,
- J. Ye,
- Y. Zhang,
- I. Cristescu,
- XENON Collaboration
Affiliations
- E. Aprile
- Physics Department, Columbia University
- J. Aalbers
- Nikhef and the University of Amsterdam
- F. Agostini
- INFN-Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso and Gran Sasso Science Institute
- M. Alfonsi
- Institut für Physik & Exzellenzcluster PRISMA, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
- F. D. Amaro
- Department of Physics, University of Coimbra
- M. Anthony
- Physics Department, Columbia University
- F. Arneodo
- New York University Abu Dhabi
- P. Barrow
- Physik-Institut, University of Zurich
- L. Baudis
- Physik-Institut, University of Zurich
- B. Bauermeister
- Institut für Physik & Exzellenzcluster PRISMA, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
- M. L. Benabderrahmane
- New York University Abu Dhabi
- T. Berger
- Department of Physics, Applied Physics and Astronomy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- P. A. Breur
- Nikhef and the University of Amsterdam
- A. Brown
- Nikhef and the University of Amsterdam
- E. Brown
- Department of Physics, Applied Physics and Astronomy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- S. Bruenner
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik
- G. Bruno
- INFN-Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso and Gran Sasso Science Institute
- R. Budnik
- Department of Particle Physics and Astrophysics, Weizmann Institute of Science
- L. Bütikofer
- Physikalisches Institut, Universität Freiburg
- J. Calvén
- Oskar Klein Centre, Department of Physics, Stockholm University, AlbaNova
- J. M. R. Cardoso
- Department of Physics, University of Coimbra
- M. Cervantes
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University
- D. Cichon
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik
- D. Coderre
- Physikalisches Institut, Universität Freiburg
- A. P. Colijn
- Nikhef and the University of Amsterdam
- J. Conrad
- Oskar Klein Centre, Department of Physics, Stockholm University, AlbaNova
- J. P. Cussonneau
- SUBATECH, Ecole des Mines de Nantes, CNRS/In2p3, Université de Nantes
- M. P. Decowski
- Nikhef and the University of Amsterdam
- P. de Perio
- Physics Department, Columbia University
- P. Di Gangi
- Department of Physics and Astrophysics, University of Bologna and INFN-Bologna
- A. Di Giovanni
- New York University Abu Dhabi
- S. Diglio
- SUBATECH, Ecole des Mines de Nantes, CNRS/In2p3, Université de Nantes
- E. Duchovni
- Department of Particle Physics and Astrophysics, Weizmann Institute of Science
- G. Eurin
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik
- J. Fei
- Department of Physics, University of California
- A. D. Ferella
- Oskar Klein Centre, Department of Physics, Stockholm University, AlbaNova
- A. Fieguth
- Institut für Kernphysik, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster
- D. Franco
- Physik-Institut, University of Zurich
- W. Fulgione
- INFN-Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso and Gran Sasso Science Institute
- A. Gallo Rosso
- INFN-Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso and Gran Sasso Science Institute
- M. Galloway
- Physik-Institut, University of Zurich
- F. Gao
- Physics Department, Columbia University
- M. Garbini
- Department of Physics and Astrophysics, University of Bologna and INFN-Bologna
- C. Geis
- Institut für Physik & Exzellenzcluster PRISMA, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
- L. W. Goetzke
- Physics Department, Columbia University
- L. Grandi
- Department of Physics and Kavli Institute of Cosmological Physics, University of Chicago
- Z. Greene
- Physics Department, Columbia University
- C. Grignon
- Institut für Physik & Exzellenzcluster PRISMA, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
- C. Hasterok
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik
- E. Hogenbirk
- Nikhef and the University of Amsterdam
- C. Huhmann
- Institut für Kernphysik, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster
- R. Itay
- Department of Particle Physics and Astrophysics, Weizmann Institute of Science
- B. Kaminsky
- Physikalisches Institut, Universität Freiburg
- G. Kessler
- Physik-Institut, University of Zurich
- A. Kish
- Physik-Institut, University of Zurich
- H. Landsman
- Department of Particle Physics and Astrophysics, Weizmann Institute of Science
- R. F. Lang
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University
- D. Lellouch
- Department of Particle Physics and Astrophysics, Weizmann Institute of Science
- L. Levinson
- Department of Particle Physics and Astrophysics, Weizmann Institute of Science
- M. Le Calloch
- SUBATECH, Ecole des Mines de Nantes, CNRS/In2p3, Université de Nantes
- Q. Lin
- Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso
- S. Lindemann
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik
- M. Lindner
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik
- J. A. M. Lopes
- Department of Physics, University of Coimbra
- A. Manfredini
- Department of Particle Physics and Astrophysics, Weizmann Institute of Science
- I. Maris
- New York University Abu Dhabi
- T. Marrodán Undagoitia
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik
- J. Masbou
- SUBATECH, Ecole des Mines de Nantes, CNRS/In2p3, Université de Nantes
- F. V. Massoli
- Department of Physics and Astrophysics, University of Bologna and INFN-Bologna
- D. Masson
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University
- D. Mayani
- Physik-Institut, University of Zurich
- Y. Meng
- Physics and Astronomy Department, University of California
- M. Messina
- Physics Department, Columbia University
- K. Micheneau
- SUBATECH, Ecole des Mines de Nantes, CNRS/In2p3, Université de Nantes
- B. Miguez
- INFN-Torino and Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino
- A. Molinario
- INFN-Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso and Gran Sasso Science Institute
- M. Murra
- Institut für Kernphysik, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster
- J. Naganoma
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University
- K. Ni
- Department of Physics, University of California
- U. Oberlack
- Institut für Physik & Exzellenzcluster PRISMA, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
- S. E. A. Orrigo
- Department of Physics, University of Coimbra
- P. Pakarha
- Physik-Institut, University of Zurich
- B. Pelssers
- Oskar Klein Centre, Department of Physics, Stockholm University, AlbaNova
- R. Persiani
- SUBATECH, Ecole des Mines de Nantes, CNRS/In2p3, Université de Nantes
- F. Piastra
- Physik-Institut, University of Zurich
- J. Pienaar
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University
- M.-C. Piro
- Department of Physics, Applied Physics and Astronomy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- V. Pizzella
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik
- G. Plante
- Physics Department, Columbia University
- N. Priel
- Department of Particle Physics and Astrophysics, Weizmann Institute of Science
- L. Rauch
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik
- S. Reichard
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University
- C. Reuter
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University
- A. Rizzo
- Physics Department, Columbia University
- S. Rosendahl
- Institut für Kernphysik, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster
- N. Rupp
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik
- R. Saldanha
- Department of Physics and Kavli Institute of Cosmological Physics, University of Chicago
- J. M. F. dos Santos
- Department of Physics, University of Coimbra
- G. Sartorelli
- Department of Physics and Astrophysics, University of Bologna and INFN-Bologna
- M. Scheibelhut
- Institut für Physik & Exzellenzcluster PRISMA, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
- S. Schindler
- Institut für Physik & Exzellenzcluster PRISMA, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
- J. Schreiner
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik
- M. Schumann
- Physikalisches Institut, Universität Freiburg
- L. Scotto Lavina
- LPNHE, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Université Paris Diderot, CNRS/IN2P3
- M. Selvi
- Department of Physics and Astrophysics, University of Bologna and INFN-Bologna
- P. Shagin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University
- E. Shockley
- Department of Physics and Kavli Institute of Cosmological Physics, University of Chicago
- M. Silva
- Department of Physics, University of Coimbra
- H. Simgen
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik
- M. v. Sivers
- Physikalisches Institut, Universität Freiburg
- A. Stein
- Physics and Astronomy Department, University of California
- D. Thers
- SUBATECH, Ecole des Mines de Nantes, CNRS/In2p3, Université de Nantes
- A. Tiseni
- Nikhef and the University of Amsterdam
- G. Trinchero
- INFN-Torino and Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino
- C. Tunnell
- Nikhef and the University of Amsterdam
- N. Upole
- Department of Physics and Kavli Institute of Cosmological Physics, University of Chicago
- H. Wang
- Physics and Astronomy Department, University of California
- Y. Wei
- Physik-Institut, University of Zurich
- C. Weinheimer
- Institut für Kernphysik, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster
- J. Wulf
- Physik-Institut, University of Zurich
- J. Ye
- Department of Physics, University of California
- Y. Zhang
- Physics Department, Columbia University
- I. Cristescu
- Tritium Laboratory Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
- XENON Collaboration
- Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-017-4757-1
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 77,
no. 5
pp. 1 – 12
Abstract
Abstract The XENON1T experiment aims for the direct detection of dark matter in a detector filled with 3.3 tons of liquid xenon. In order to achieve the desired sensitivity, the background induced by radioactive decays inside the detector has to be sufficiently low. One major contributor is the $$\beta $$ β -emitter $$^{85}$$ 85 Kr which is present in the xenon. For XENON1T a concentration of natural krypton in xenon $$\mathrm {^{nat}\mathrm{Kr/Xe}\,<\,200\,ppq}$$ nat Kr / Xe < 200 ppq (parts per quadrillion, $$1~\mathrm{ppq}~=10^{-15} \mathrm{mol/mol}$$ 1 ppq = 10 - 15 mol / mol ) is required. In this work, the design, construction and test of a novel cryogenic distillation column using the common McCabe–Thiele approach is described. The system demonstrated a krypton reduction factor of $$6.4\cdot 10^5$$ 6.4 · 10 5 with thermodynamic stability at process speeds above 3 kg/h. The resulting concentration of $$\mathrm {^{nat}\mathrm{Kr/Xe}<26\,ppq}$$ nat Kr / Xe < 26 ppq is the lowest ever achieved, almost one order of magnitude below the requirements for XENON1T and even sufficient for future dark matter experiments using liquid xenon, such as XENONnT and DARWIN.
Keywords
