Sample Preparation and Gamma-Assay Measurements at the Low-Background Counting Facility at the Kimballton Underground Research Facility

ORAL

Abstract

The KURF (Kimballton Underground Research Facility) is home to a gamma counting facility, consisting of two HPGe (high purity germanium) detectors specifically designed for low background assay work. We will discuss the techniques and sample preparation done for gamma-assay at this facility. Specifically we will discuss the gamma-assay measurements done for Axon PicoCoax cable which is a possible candidate for the M\textsc{AJORANA} D\textsc{EMONSTRATOR}. We will also discuss the gamma-assay measurements for lead bricks from Sullivan lead that are to be used for shielding in MALBEK (The M\textsc{AJORANA} Low Background BEGe Detector at KURF) and the proposed M\textsc{AJORANA} experiment.

*This work is supported by DOE Grants DE-FG02-97ER41041 and DE-FG02-97ER41033, and NSF Grant PHY-0705014.

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Authors

  • Jacqueline Strain

    • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory (TUNL)

  • Padraic Finnerty

    • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory (TUNL)

  • Graham Giovanetti

    • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory (TUNL)
    • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory

  • Reyco Henning

    • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory (TUNL)
    • University of North Carolina and Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory (TUNL)

  • Alex Long

    • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory (TUNL)

  • Sean MacMullin

    • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory (TUNL)

  • Kevin Macon

    • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory (TUNL)

  • John Wilkerson

    • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory (TUNL)

  • Henning Back

    • North Carolina State University

  • Richard Lindstrom

    • National Institute of Standard and Technology

  • Steven Derek Rountree

    • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
    • Virginia Tech

  • Bruce Vogelaar

    • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University