University of Oulu

Background sources in low-background experiments

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Author: Puputti, Hannah1
Organizations: 1University of Oulu, Faculty of Science, Physics
Format: ebook
Version: published version
Access: open
Online Access: PDF Full Text (PDF, 0.4 MB)
Pages: 26
Persistent link: http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:oulu-202008052767
Language: English
Published: Oulu : H. Puputti, 2020
Publish Date: 2020-08-05
Thesis type: Bachelor's thesis
Description:

Abstract

Due to the elusive nature of neutrinos and dark matter, studies involving these rare phenomena require low-background experiments. These experiments are often situated underground or within mountains in deep underground laboratories because the rock serves as a barrier for cosmic muons. Muons, however, are not the only source of background. In this thesis, I study the main sources of background in low-background experiments: muons, neutrinos, neutrons, and radioactive impurities.

After a brief recap on the history of deep underground laboratories, I will present a review of where these backgrounds come from, what are their characteristics, and their most common interactions. I have included commonly used options for reducing these backgrounds or mitigating their effects. To date, there are tens of deep underground laboratories of varying depths. One of these is Callio Lab in the Pyhäsalmi Mine in Finland, where thorough natural background characterization has been done in preparation for possible low-background experiments. I will use Callio Lab as an example of how knowledge of background sources can be implemented for real-life usage.

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Copyright information: © Hannah Puputti, 2020. This publication is copyrighted. You may download, display and print it for your own personal use. Commercial use is prohibited.