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Measurement of the 85Kr specific activity in the GERDA liquid argon | JoVE Visualize

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Measurement of the ⁸⁵Kr specific activity in the GERDA liquid argon

M Agostini¹, A Alexander¹, G Araujo²

¹Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, London, UK.

The European Physical Journal. C, Particles and Fields|May 15, 2025

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Synchrotrons And Accelerators

Measurement Of The 85kr Specific Activity In The Gerda Liquid Argon

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View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Krypton-85 (85Kr), a radioactive isotope from nuclear activities, poses a background threat to sensitive detectors. The Gerda experiment precisely measured its concentration in liquid argon, crucial for future low-background research.

Area of Science:

Nuclear physics
Particle physics
Detector technology

Background:

Radioactive isotope 85Kr is prevalent in the atmosphere due to nuclear industry activities.
85Kr beta-decay presents a significant background challenge for sensitive low-threshold noble gas and liquid detectors.
Noble gas detectors often use air-derived mediums, increasing 85Kr contamination risk.

Purpose of the Study:

To quantify the specific activity of 85Kr in the liquid argon used by the Gerda experiment.
To assess the impact of 85Kr as a background source for neutrinoless double beta decay searches.
To leverage Gerda's capabilities for precise radioisotope measurements.

Main Methods:

Analysis of the complete dataset from the Gerda experiment.
Utilizing the high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy of germanium detectors.
Measurement performed on liquid argon within a deep underground environment.

Main Results:

The specific activity of 85Kr in the liquid argon was determined.
The measured 85Kr concentration was found to be X mBq/kg at the start of Gerda's second phase.
This measurement provides crucial data for background modeling in sensitive experiments.

Conclusions:

The Gerda experiment successfully quantified the 85Kr background in its liquid argon detector medium.
This precise measurement is vital for interpreting results from neutrinoless double beta decay searches.
Understanding and mitigating 85Kr contamination is essential for advancing low-background physics experiments.

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