Radioassay facilities at the STFC Boulby Underground Laboratory

Paul R. Scovell; Matthew Thiesse; Sid Ahmed Maouloud; Sid Ahmed Maouloud; Chamkaur Ghag; James Dobson

doi:10.3389/fphy.2023.1310146

Frontiers in Physics (Dec 2023)

Radioassay facilities at the STFC Boulby Underground Laboratory

Paul R. Scovell,
Matthew Thiesse,
Sid Ahmed Maouloud,
Sid Ahmed Maouloud,
Chamkaur Ghag,
James Dobson

Affiliations

Paul R. Scovell: STFC Boulby Underground Laboratory, Boulby Mine, Redcar & Cleveland, United Kingdom
Matthew Thiesse: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
Sid Ahmed Maouloud: STFC Boulby Underground Laboratory, Boulby Mine, Redcar & Cleveland, United Kingdom
Sid Ahmed Maouloud: School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Chamkaur Ghag: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London (UCL), London, United Kingdom
James Dobson: Department of Physics, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphy.2023.1310146
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 11

Abstract

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For future low-background particle physics experiments, it will be essential to assay candidate detector materials using an array of assay techniques. To minimise the risk of sample contamination whilst moving between assay techniques, it is also sensible to minimise the distance between assay stations, particularly for non-destructive techniques where the sample may end up being installed into an experiment. The Boulby UnderGround Screening (BUGS) Facility comprises an array of germanium detectors, two XIA UltraLo-1800 surface-alpha counters, two radon emanation detectors and an Agilent ICP-MS system. This article describes each of these systems.

Published in Frontiers in Physics

ISSN: 2296-424X (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Physics
Website: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physics

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