Discovery of underground argon with low level of radioactive 39Ar and possible applications to WIMP dark matter detectors

D. Acosta-Kane; R. Acciarri; O. Amaize; M. Antonello; B. Baibussinov; M. Baldo Ceolin; C. J. Ballentine; R. Bansal; L. Basgall; A. Bazarko; P. Benetti; J. Benziger; A. Burgers; F. Calaprice; E. Calligarich; M. Cambiaghi; N. Canci; F. Carbonara; M. Cassidy; F. Cavanna; S. Centro; A. Chavarria; D. Cheng; A. G. Cocco; P. Collon; F. Dalnoki-Veress; E. de Haas; F. Di Pompeo; G. Fiorillo; F. Fitch; V. Gallo; C. Galbiati; M. Gaull; S. Gazzana; L. Grandi; A. Goretti; R. Highfill; T. Highfill; T. Hohman; Al Ianni; An Ianni; A. LaCava; M. Laubenstein; H. Y. Lee; M. Leung; B. Loer; H. H. Loosli; B. Lyons; D. Marks; K. McCarty; G. Meng; C. Montanari; S. Mukhopadhyay; A. Nelson; O. Palamara; L. Pandola; F. Pietropaolo; T. Pivonka; A. Pocar; R. Purtschert; A. Rappoldi; G. Raselli; F. Resnati; D. Robertson; M. Roncadelli; M. Rossella; C. Rubbia; J. Ruderman; R. Saldanha; C. Schmitt; R. Scott; E. Segreto; A. Shirley; A. M. Szelc; R. Tartaglia; T. Tesileanu; S. Ventura; C. Vignoli; C. Visnjic; R. Vondrasek; A. Yushkov

doi:10.1016/j.nima.2007.12.032

Discovery of underground argon with low level of radioactive ³⁹Ar and possible applications to WIMP dark matter detectors

D. Acosta-Kane, R. Acciarri, O. Amaize, M. Antonello, B. Baibussinov, M. Baldo Ceolin, C. J. Ballentine, R. Bansal, L. Basgall, A. Bazarko, P. Benetti, J. Benziger, A. Burgers, F. Calaprice, E. Calligarich, M. Cambiaghi, N. Canci, F. Carbonara, M. Cassidy, F. CavannaS. Centro, A. Chavarria, D. Cheng, A. G. Cocco, P. Collon, F. Dalnoki-Veress, E. de Haas, F. Di Pompeo, G. Fiorillo, F. Fitch, V. Gallo, C. Galbiati, M. Gaull, S. Gazzana, L. Grandi, A. Goretti, R. Highfill, T. Highfill, T. Hohman, Al Ianni, An Ianni, A. LaCava, M. Laubenstein, H. Y. Lee, M. Leung, B. Loer, H. H. Loosli, B. Lyons, D. Marks, K. McCarty, G. Meng, C. Montanari, S. Mukhopadhyay, A. Nelson, O. Palamara, L. Pandola, F. Pietropaolo, T. Pivonka, A. Pocar, R. Purtschert, A. Rappoldi, G. Raselli, F. Resnati, D. Robertson, M. Roncadelli, M. Rossella, C. Rubbia, J. Ruderman, R. Saldanha, C. Schmitt, R. Scott, E. Segreto, A. Shirley, A. M. Szelc, R. Tartaglia, T. Tesileanu, S. Ventura, C. Vignoli, C. Visnjic, R. Vondrasek, A. Yushkov

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

We report on the first measurement of ³⁹Ar in argon from underground natural gas reservoirs. The gas stored in the US National Helium Reserve was found to contain a low level of ³⁹Ar. The ratio of ³⁹Ar to stable argon was measured to be ≤ 4 × 10^{- 17} (84% C.L.), less than 5% the value in atmospheric argon (³⁹ Ar / Ar = 8 × 10^{- 16}). The total quantity of argon currently stored in the National Helium Reserve is estimated at 1000 tons. ³⁹Ar represents one of the most important backgrounds in argon detectors for WIMP dark matter searches. The findings reported demonstrate the possibility of constructing large multi-ton argon detectors with low radioactivity suitable for WIMP dark matter searches.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	46-51
Number of pages	6
Journal	Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Volume	587
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2007.12.032
State	Published - Mar 11 2008

Keywords

Cryogenic noble gases
Dark matter
Low background detectors

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Instrumentation

Access to Document

10.1016/j.nima.2007.12.032

Cite this

Acosta-Kane, D., Acciarri, R., Amaize, O., Antonello, M., Baibussinov, B., Baldo Ceolin, M., Ballentine, C. J., Bansal, R., Basgall, L., Bazarko, A., Benetti, P., Benziger, J., Burgers, A., Calaprice, F., Calligarich, E., Cambiaghi, M., Canci, N., Carbonara, F., Cassidy, M., ... Yushkov, A. (2008). Discovery of underground argon with low level of radioactive ³⁹Ar and possible applications to WIMP dark matter detectors. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 587(1), 46-51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2007.12.032

Discovery of underground argon with low level of radioactive ³⁹Ar and possible applications to WIMP dark matter detectors. / Acosta-Kane, D.; Acciarri, R.; Amaize, O. et al.
In: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 587, No. 1, 11.03.2008, p. 46-51.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Acosta-Kane, D, Acciarri, R, Amaize, O, Antonello, M, Baibussinov, B, Baldo Ceolin, M, Ballentine, CJ, Bansal, R, Basgall, L, Bazarko, A, Benetti, P, Benziger, J, Burgers, A, Calaprice, F, Calligarich, E, Cambiaghi, M, Canci, N, Carbonara, F, Cassidy, M, Cavanna, F, Centro, S, Chavarria, A, Cheng, D, Cocco, AG, Collon, P, Dalnoki-Veress, F, de Haas, E, Di Pompeo, F, Fiorillo, G, Fitch, F, Gallo, V, Galbiati, C, Gaull, M, Gazzana, S, Grandi, L, Goretti, A, Highfill, R, Highfill, T, Hohman, T, Ianni, A, Ianni, A, LaCava, A, Laubenstein, M, Lee, HY, Leung, M, Loer, B, Loosli, HH, Lyons, B, Marks, D, McCarty, K, Meng, G, Montanari, C, Mukhopadhyay, S, Nelson, A, Palamara, O, Pandola, L, Pietropaolo, F, Pivonka, T, Pocar, A, Purtschert, R, Rappoldi, A, Raselli, G, Resnati, F, Robertson, D, Roncadelli, M, Rossella, M, Rubbia, C, Ruderman, J, Saldanha, R, Schmitt, C, Scott, R, Segreto, E, Shirley, A, Szelc, AM, Tartaglia, R, Tesileanu, T, Ventura, S, Vignoli, C, Visnjic, C, Vondrasek, R & Yushkov, A 2008, 'Discovery of underground argon with low level of radioactive ³⁹Ar and possible applications to WIMP dark matter detectors', Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, vol. 587, no. 1, pp. 46-51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2007.12.032

Acosta-Kane D, Acciarri R, Amaize O, Antonello M, Baibussinov B, Baldo Ceolin M et al. Discovery of underground argon with low level of radioactive ³⁹Ar and possible applications to WIMP dark matter detectors. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment. 2008 Mar 11;587(1):46-51. doi: 10.1016/j.nima.2007.12.032

@article{cff528693bc14d588146916811d63266,

title = "Discovery of underground argon with low level of radioactive 39Ar and possible applications to WIMP dark matter detectors",

abstract = "We report on the first measurement of 39Ar in argon from underground natural gas reservoirs. The gas stored in the US National Helium Reserve was found to contain a low level of 39Ar. The ratio of 39Ar to stable argon was measured to be ≤ 4 × 10- 17 (84% C.L.), less than 5% the value in atmospheric argon (39 Ar / Ar = 8 × 10- 16). The total quantity of argon currently stored in the National Helium Reserve is estimated at 1000 tons. 39Ar represents one of the most important backgrounds in argon detectors for WIMP dark matter searches. The findings reported demonstrate the possibility of constructing large multi-ton argon detectors with low radioactivity suitable for WIMP dark matter searches.",

keywords = "Cryogenic noble gases, Dark matter, Low background detectors",

author = "D. Acosta-Kane and R. Acciarri and O. Amaize and M. Antonello and B. Baibussinov and {Baldo Ceolin}, M. and Ballentine, {C. J.} and R. Bansal and L. Basgall and A. Bazarko and P. Benetti and J. Benziger and A. Burgers and F. Calaprice and E. Calligarich and M. Cambiaghi and N. Canci and F. Carbonara and M. Cassidy and F. Cavanna and S. Centro and A. Chavarria and D. Cheng and Cocco, {A. G.} and P. Collon and F. Dalnoki-Veress and {de Haas}, E. and {Di Pompeo}, F. and G. Fiorillo and F. Fitch and V. Gallo and C. Galbiati and M. Gaull and S. Gazzana and L. Grandi and A. Goretti and R. Highfill and T. Highfill and T. Hohman and Al Ianni and An Ianni and A. LaCava and M. Laubenstein and Lee, {H. Y.} and M. Leung and B. Loer and Loosli, {H. H.} and B. Lyons and D. Marks and K. McCarty and G. Meng and C. Montanari and S. Mukhopadhyay and A. Nelson and O. Palamara and L. Pandola and F. Pietropaolo and T. Pivonka and A. Pocar and R. Purtschert and A. Rappoldi and G. Raselli and F. Resnati and D. Robertson and M. Roncadelli and M. Rossella and C. Rubbia and J. Ruderman and R. Saldanha and C. Schmitt and R. Scott and E. Segreto and A. Shirley and Szelc, {A. M.} and R. Tartaglia and T. Tesileanu and S. Ventura and C. Vignoli and C. Visnjic and R. Vondrasek and A. Yushkov",

note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by the US National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0704220. This work was supported in part by the US Department of Energy, Nuclear Physics Division, under contract DE-AC02-06CH11357. The WARP program is funded by the italian Instituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare and by the US National Science Foundation. A.M. Szelc has been in part supported by a grant of the President of the Polish Academy of Sciences and by the MNiSW Grant 1P03B04130. The authors express their gratitude to the Kansas Refined Helium Co., a division of Linde, for access to the Helium Conservation Pipeline and assistance with sampling and transport. The authors thank W. Brinkman, D. Marlow, J. Russell, and P. Wraight for their support and encouragement.",

year = "2008",

month = mar,

day = "11",

doi = "10.1016/j.nima.2007.12.032",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "587",

pages = "46--51",

journal = "Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment",

issn = "0168-9002",

publisher = "Elsevier",

number = "1",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Discovery of underground argon with low level of radioactive 39Ar and possible applications to WIMP dark matter detectors

AU - Acosta-Kane, D.

AU - Acciarri, R.

AU - Amaize, O.

AU - Antonello, M.

AU - Baibussinov, B.

AU - Baldo Ceolin, M.

AU - Ballentine, C. J.

AU - Bansal, R.

AU - Basgall, L.

AU - Bazarko, A.

AU - Benetti, P.

AU - Benziger, J.

AU - Burgers, A.

AU - Calaprice, F.

AU - Calligarich, E.

AU - Cambiaghi, M.

AU - Canci, N.

AU - Carbonara, F.

AU - Cassidy, M.

AU - Cavanna, F.

AU - Centro, S.

AU - Chavarria, A.

AU - Cheng, D.

AU - Cocco, A. G.

AU - Collon, P.

AU - Dalnoki-Veress, F.

AU - de Haas, E.

AU - Di Pompeo, F.

AU - Fiorillo, G.

AU - Fitch, F.

AU - Gallo, V.

AU - Galbiati, C.

AU - Gaull, M.

AU - Gazzana, S.

AU - Grandi, L.

AU - Goretti, A.

AU - Highfill, R.

AU - Highfill, T.

AU - Hohman, T.

AU - Ianni, Al

AU - Ianni, An

AU - LaCava, A.

AU - Laubenstein, M.

AU - Lee, H. Y.

AU - Leung, M.

AU - Loer, B.

AU - Loosli, H. H.

AU - Lyons, B.

AU - Marks, D.

AU - McCarty, K.

AU - Meng, G.

AU - Montanari, C.

AU - Mukhopadhyay, S.

AU - Nelson, A.

AU - Palamara, O.

AU - Pandola, L.

AU - Pietropaolo, F.

AU - Pivonka, T.

AU - Pocar, A.

AU - Purtschert, R.

AU - Rappoldi, A.

AU - Raselli, G.

AU - Resnati, F.

AU - Robertson, D.

AU - Roncadelli, M.

AU - Rossella, M.

AU - Rubbia, C.

AU - Ruderman, J.

AU - Saldanha, R.

AU - Schmitt, C.

AU - Scott, R.

AU - Segreto, E.

AU - Shirley, A.

AU - Szelc, A. M.

AU - Tartaglia, R.

AU - Tesileanu, T.

AU - Ventura, S.

AU - Vignoli, C.

AU - Visnjic, C.

AU - Vondrasek, R.

AU - Yushkov, A.

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by the US National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0704220. This work was supported in part by the US Department of Energy, Nuclear Physics Division, under contract DE-AC02-06CH11357. The WARP program is funded by the italian Instituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare and by the US National Science Foundation. A.M. Szelc has been in part supported by a grant of the President of the Polish Academy of Sciences and by the MNiSW Grant 1P03B04130. The authors express their gratitude to the Kansas Refined Helium Co., a division of Linde, for access to the Helium Conservation Pipeline and assistance with sampling and transport. The authors thank W. Brinkman, D. Marlow, J. Russell, and P. Wraight for their support and encouragement.

PY - 2008/3/11

Y1 - 2008/3/11

N2 - We report on the first measurement of 39Ar in argon from underground natural gas reservoirs. The gas stored in the US National Helium Reserve was found to contain a low level of 39Ar. The ratio of 39Ar to stable argon was measured to be ≤ 4 × 10- 17 (84% C.L.), less than 5% the value in atmospheric argon (39 Ar / Ar = 8 × 10- 16). The total quantity of argon currently stored in the National Helium Reserve is estimated at 1000 tons. 39Ar represents one of the most important backgrounds in argon detectors for WIMP dark matter searches. The findings reported demonstrate the possibility of constructing large multi-ton argon detectors with low radioactivity suitable for WIMP dark matter searches.

AB - We report on the first measurement of 39Ar in argon from underground natural gas reservoirs. The gas stored in the US National Helium Reserve was found to contain a low level of 39Ar. The ratio of 39Ar to stable argon was measured to be ≤ 4 × 10- 17 (84% C.L.), less than 5% the value in atmospheric argon (39 Ar / Ar = 8 × 10- 16). The total quantity of argon currently stored in the National Helium Reserve is estimated at 1000 tons. 39Ar represents one of the most important backgrounds in argon detectors for WIMP dark matter searches. The findings reported demonstrate the possibility of constructing large multi-ton argon detectors with low radioactivity suitable for WIMP dark matter searches.

KW - Cryogenic noble gases

KW - Dark matter

KW - Low background detectors

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=39749113937&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=39749113937&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.nima.2007.12.032

DO - 10.1016/j.nima.2007.12.032

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:39749113937

SN - 0168-9002

VL - 587

SP - 46

EP - 51

JO - Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

JF - Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

IS - 1

ER -