Ultra-sensitive radon assay using an electrostatic chamber in a recirculating system

Authors

• A. Anker, Stanford Linear Accelerator CenterFollow
• P. A. Breur, Stanford Linear Accelerator Center
• B. Mong, Stanford Linear Accelerator CenterFollow
• P. Acharya, Department of Physics and Astronomy
• A. Amy, University of Massachusetts
• E. Angelico, Stanford University
• I. J. Arnquist, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
• A. Atencio, Drexel University
• J. Bane, University of Massachusetts
• V. Belov, Russian Research Centre Kurchatov Institute
• E. P. Bernard, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
• T. Bhatta, University of KentuckyFollow
• A. Bolotnikov, Brookhaven National Laboratory
• J. Breslin, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• J. P. Brodsky, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
• S. Bron, TRIUMF
• E. Brown, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• T. Brunner, TRIUMF
• B. Burnell, Drexel University
• E. Caden, McGill University
• L. Q. Cao, CAS - Institute of Microelectronics
• G. F. Cao, Chinese Academy of Sciences
• D. Cesmecioglu, University of Massachusetts
• D. Chernyak, Department of Physics and Astronomy
• M. Chiu, Brookhaven National Laboratory
• R. Collister, Carleton University
• T. Daniels, University of North Carolina Wilmington
• L. Darroch, McGill University
• R. DeVoe, Stanford University
• M. L. di Vacri, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
• Y. Y. Ding, Chinese Academy of Sciences
• M. J. Dolinski, Drexel University

Abstract

Rare event searches such as neutrinoless double beta decay and Weakly Interacting Massive Particle detection require ultra-low background detectors. Radon contamination is a significant challenge for these experiments, which employ highly sensitive radon assay techniques to identify and select low-emission materials. This work presents the development of ultra-sensitive electrostatic chamber (ESC) instruments designed to measure radon emanation in a recirculating gas loop, for future lower background experiments. Unlike traditional methods that separate emanation and detection steps, this system allows continuous radon transport and detection. This is made possible with a custom-built recirculation pump. A Python-based analysis framework, PyDAn, was developed to process and fit time-dependent radon decay data. Radon emanation rates are given for various materials measured with this instrument. A radon source of known activity provides an absolute calibration, enabling statistically-limited minimal detectable activities of 20 μBq. These devices are powerful tools for screening materials in the development of low-background particle physics experiments.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2026

Notes/Citation Information

Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Authors

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1016/j.nima.2025.170876

Archival?

Archival

Repository Citation

Anker, A.; Breur, P. A.; Mong, B.; Acharya, P.; Amy, A.; Angelico, E.; Arnquist, I. J.; Atencio, A.; Bane, J.; Belov, V.; Bernard, E. P.; Bhatta, T.; Bolotnikov, A.; Breslin, J.; Brodsky, J. P.; Bron, S.; Brown, E.; Brunner, T.; Burnell, B.; Caden, E.; Cao, L. Q.; Cao, G. F.; Cesmecioglu, D.; Chernyak, D.; Chiu, M.; Collister, R.; Daniels, T.; Darroch, L.; DeVoe, R.; di Vacri, M. L.; Ding, Y. Y.; and Dolinski, M. J., "Ultra-sensitive radon assay using an electrostatic chamber in a recirculating system" (2026). Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications. 798.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/physastron_facpub/798