Low X-ray background measurements at the Underground Canfranc Laboratory

Galán, J. ; Aune, S. ; Dafni, T. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Fanourakis, G. ; Ferrer-Ribas, E. ; García, J.A. ; Gardikiotis, A. ; Geralis, T. ; Giomataris, I. ; Gómez, H. ; Garza, J.G. ; Herrera, D.C. ; Iguaz, F.J. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Irastorza, I.G. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Luzón, G. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Papaevangelou, T. ; Rodríguez, A. ; Ruz, J. ; Seguí, L. ; Tomás, A. ; Vafeiadis, T. ; Yildiz, S.C.

Resumen: Micromegas detectors, thanks to the good spatial and temporal discrimination capabilities, are good candidates for rare event search experiments. Recent X-ray background levels achieved by these detectors in the CAST experiment have motivated further studies in the nature of the background levels measured. In particular, different shielding configurations have been tested at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory, using a microbulk type detector which was previously running at the CAST experiment. The first results underground show that this technology, which is made of low radiative materials, is able to reach background levels up to 2x10^-7 keV^-1 s^-1 cm^-2 with a proper shielding. Moreover, the experimental background measurements are complemented with Geant4 simulations which allow to understand the origin of the background, and to optimize future shielding set-ups.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1051/eas/1253019

Año: 2012

Publicado en: EAS publications series 53 (2012), 155-163
ISSN: 1633-4760

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/FP7/240054/EU/ Novel Developments in Time Projection Chambers (TPCs) for Rare Event Searches in Underground Astroparticle EXperiments/TREX
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/CPAN-CSD2007-00042
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/FPA2008-03456

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Área Física Atóm.Molec.y Nucl. (Dpto. Física Teórica)