Evaluation of SNOLAB background mitigation procedures through the use of an ICP-MS based dust monitoring methodology

Dust particulate fallout on materials in use for rare-event searches is a concerning source of radioactive backgrounds due to the presence of the naturally occurring radionuclides 40K, 232Th, 238U, and their progeny in dust. Much effort is dedicated to inform radioactive backgrounds from dust and ev...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment Vol. 1056; p. 168700
Main Authors:	di Vacri, M.L., Scorza, S., French, A., Rocco, N.D., Schlieder, T.D., Arnquist, I.J., Hoppe, E.W., Hall, J.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States Elsevier B.V 01-11-2023 Elsevier
Subjects:	Background mitigation Cleanroom dust Dust radioactive background ICP-MS INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Physics Surface contamination Ultra-low background materials Background mitigation ICP-MS Surface contamination Ultra-low background materials Dust radioactive background Cleanroom dust
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Summary:	Dust particulate fallout on materials in use for rare-event searches is a concerning source of radioactive backgrounds due to the presence of the naturally occurring radionuclides 40K, 232Th, 238U, and their progeny in dust. Much effort is dedicated to inform radioactive backgrounds from dust and evaluate the efficacy of mitigation procedures. A great portion of such effort relies on fallout models and assumed dust composition. In this work, an ICP-MS based methodology was employed for a direct determination of fallout rates of radionuclides and stable isotopes of interest from dust particulate at the SNOLAB facility. Hosted in an active mine, the SNOLAB underground laboratory strives to maintain experimental areas at class 2000 cleanroom level. This work validates the mitigation procedures in place at SNOLAB and informs dust backgrounds during laboratory activities. Fallout rates of major constituents of the local rock were measured two to three orders of magnitude lower in the clean experimental areas compared to non-clean transition areas from the mine to the laboratory. An increase of approximately two orders of magnitude in the fallout rate of stable Pb isotopes was determined in an experimental area during activities involving handling of Pb bricks. Increased 40K, 232Th, and 238U fallout rates were measured in clean experimental areas during activities generating particulate.
Bibliography:	AC05-76RL01830 PNNL-SA-185385 USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)
ISSN:	0168-9002 1872-9576
DOI:	10.1016/j.nima.2023.168700