This report summarizes the results of a research program on the radiopurity of the Borexino scintillator. Three aspects were focused: 1) ultratrace determination of impurities in commercial organic scintillator solvents; 2) recontamination rates and 3) methods for repurification. This work has covered several solvents and a wide range of impurities. Rates for recontamination of several materials have been measured and impurity patterns of contamination at different stages from manufacture to measurement can be qualitatively modeled. The main radiopurity problem for Borexino will be repurification of continuing contamination from the vessel itself. The operating background in Borexino is most likely to be determined by leached 210-Pb and 40-K, rather than the U/Th/daughters group, traditionally considered the major background generators.
Radiopurity of the Borexino Scintillator
DE BARI, ANTONIO;PEROTTI, ANGELO;
1992-01-01
Abstract
This report summarizes the results of a research program on the radiopurity of the Borexino scintillator. Three aspects were focused: 1) ultratrace determination of impurities in commercial organic scintillator solvents; 2) recontamination rates and 3) methods for repurification. This work has covered several solvents and a wide range of impurities. Rates for recontamination of several materials have been measured and impurity patterns of contamination at different stages from manufacture to measurement can be qualitatively modeled. The main radiopurity problem for Borexino will be repurification of continuing contamination from the vessel itself. The operating background in Borexino is most likely to be determined by leached 210-Pb and 40-K, rather than the U/Th/daughters group, traditionally considered the major background generators.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
