Radiopurity control in the NEXT-100 double beta decay experiment: procedures and initial measurements

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Published 22 January 2013 Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd
, , Citation V Álvarez et al 2013 JINST 8 T01002 DOI 10.1088/1748-0221/8/01/T01002

1748-0221/8/01/T01002

Abstract

The ``Neutrino Experiment with a Xenon Time-Projection Chamber'' (NEXT) is intended to investigate the neutrinoless double beta decay of 136Xe, which requires a severe suppression of potential backgrounds. An extensive screening and material selection process is underway for NEXT since the control of the radiopurity levels of the materials to be used in the experimental set-up is a must for rare event searches. First measurements based on Glow Discharge Mass Spectrometry and gamma-ray spectroscopy using ultra-low background germanium detectors at the Laboratorio Subterr'aneo de Canfranc (Spain) are described here. Activity results for natural radioactive chains and other common radionuclides are summarized, being the values obtained for some materials like copper and stainless steel very competitive. The implications of these results for the NEXT experiment are also discussed.

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10.1088/1748-0221/8/01/T01002