GIOVE, a shallow laboratory Ge-spectrometer with 100 μBq/kg sensitivity

A new germanium gamma spectrometer called GIOVE (Germanium spectrometer with Inner and Outer Veto) has been set up at the underground/shallow laboratory (15 m w.e.) of MPI-K. Its double plastic scintillator veto system and neutron moderation interlayer lower the background by more than one order of...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Heusser, G., Weber, M., Denz, T., Hakenmueller, J., Hofacker, R., Lackner, R., Lindner, M., Maneschg, W., Reisfelder, M., Simgen, H., Schreiner, J., Stolzenburg, D., Strecker, H., Westermann, J.
Format: Conference Proceeding
Language:English
Subjects:
ATTENUATION
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
CRYSTALS
DESIGN
G CODES
GAMMA DETECTION
GAMMA SPECTROMETERS
GE SEMICONDUCTOR DETECTORS
INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
KEV RANGE
MONTE CARLO METHOD
NEUTRONS
NITROGEN
PHOTOMULTIPLIERS
RADON
SENSITIVITY
SHIELDS
SOLID SCINTILLATION DETECTORS
UNDERGROUND
VISIBLE RADIATION
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Summary:A new germanium gamma spectrometer called GIOVE (Germanium spectrometer with Inner and Outer Veto) has been set up at the underground/shallow laboratory (15 m w.e.) of MPI-K. Its double plastic scintillator veto system and neutron moderation interlayer lower the background by more than one order of magnitude compared to the other existing spectrometer at this facility. The integral (40-2700 keV) background rate of about 290 counts (day kg){sup −1} is just a factor 4 to 8 above that of the GeMPI spectrometers operated at LNGS (3800 m w.e.) and thus proves that even under shallow overburden sub mBq/kg sensitivities are achievable. Extended material screening and neutron attenuation studies preceded the final design of the spectrometer. The technical realization of the spectrometer is described in detail with special emphasis on the inner veto system. For its optimisation a simulation model was developed for light collection on small low activity PMT’s under various geometrical conditions. Radon suppression is accomplished by employing a gas tight sample container and a nitrogen flushed glove-box system with an airlock. The active volume of the crystal was modelled by absorption scanning measurements and Monte Carlo simulations. The complete shield is implemented in a Geant4 based simulation framework.
ISSN:0094-243X
1551-7616
DOI:10.1063/1.4818065