Optimization of neutron shielding for the PICASSO experiment

S. Archambault; F. Aubin; M. Auger; E. Behnke; B. Beltran; B. Biskup; K. Clark; X. Dai; A. Davour; J. Farine; M. H. Genest; G. Giroux; R. Gornea; R. Faust; C. Krauss; I. Lawson; C. Leroy; C. Levy; L. Lessard; I. Levine; J. P. Martin; S. Kumaratunga; R. MacDonald; P. Nadeau; A. Noble; M. C. Piro; S. Pospisil; T. Shepherd; J. Sodomka; N. Starinski; I. Stekl; C. Storey; U. Wichoski; V. Zacek

doi:10.1063/1.3266086

Optimization of neutron shielding for the PICASSO experiment

S. Archambault
, F. Aubin
, M. Auger
, E. Behnke
, B. Beltran
, B. Biskup
, K. Clark
, X. Dai
, A. Davour
, J. Farine
, M. H. Genest
, G. Giroux
, R. Gornea
, R. Faust
, C. Krauss
, I. Lawson
, C. Leroy
, C. Levy
, L. Lessard
, I. Levine

J. P. Martin, S. Kumaratunga, R. MacDonald, P. Nadeau, A. Noble, M. C. Piro, S. Pospisil, T. Shepherd, J. Sodomka, N. Starinski, I. Stekl, C. Storey, U. Wichoski, V. Zacek

Physics and Astronomy (Twin Cities)

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

The PICASSO experiment searches WIMPs via their spin-dependent interactions with nuclei. At their operating temperatures, PICASSO threshold detectors are not sensitive to γ-rays, while it is necessary to suppress neutron and α-ray backgrounds. The different types of neutron shielding (water, polyethylene, borated water and polyethylene doped with different compounds of boron and lithium) were studied via the Monte Carlo method using MCNPX code. Efficiencies of these different types of neutron shielding were compared from the point of view of neutron suppression as well as number of newly born y-rays. The neutrons and γ-rays were followed up to the PICASSO detector active material. The most suitable neutron shielding for the PICASSO experiment was determined following these simulations.

Original language	English (US)
Title of host publication	Workshop on Calculation of Double-Beta-Decay Matrix Elements (MEDEX '09)
Pages	112-116
Number of pages	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3266086
State	Published - 2009
Event	Workshop on Calculation of Double-Beta-Decay Matrix Elements, MEDEX '09 - Prague, Czech Republic Duration: Jun 15 2009 → Jun 19 2009

Publication series

Name	AIP Conference Proceedings
Volume	1180
ISSN (Print)	0094-243X
ISSN (Electronic)	1551-7616

Other

Other	Workshop on Calculation of Double-Beta-Decay Matrix Elements, MEDEX '09
Country/Territory	Czech Republic
City	Prague
Period	6/15/09 → 6/19/09

Keywords

Dark matter
MCNPX
Monte Carlo simulations
Neutralino
Neutron shielding

Publisher link

10.1063/1.3266086

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Archambault, S., Aubin, F., Auger, M., Behnke, E., Beltran, B., Biskup, B., Clark, K., Dai, X., Davour, A., Farine, J., Genest, M. H., Giroux, G., Gornea, R., Faust, R., Krauss, C., Lawson, I., Leroy, C., Levy, C., Lessard, L., ... Zacek, V. (2009). Optimization of neutron shielding for the PICASSO experiment. In Workshop on Calculation of Double-Beta-Decay Matrix Elements (MEDEX '09) (pp. 112-116). (AIP Conference Proceedings; Vol. 1180). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3266086

Archambault, S, Aubin, F, Auger, M, Behnke, E, Beltran, B, Biskup, B, Clark, K, Dai, X, Davour, A, Farine, J, Genest, MH, Giroux, G, Gornea, R, Faust, R, Krauss, C, Lawson, I, Leroy, C, Levy, C, Lessard, L, Levine, I, Martin, JP, Kumaratunga, S, MacDonald, R, Nadeau, P, Noble, A, Piro, MC, Pospisil, S, Shepherd, T, Sodomka, J, Starinski, N, Stekl, I, Storey, C, Wichoski, U & Zacek, V 2009, Optimization of neutron shielding for the PICASSO experiment. in Workshop on Calculation of Double-Beta-Decay Matrix Elements (MEDEX '09). AIP Conference Proceedings, vol. 1180, pp. 112-116, Workshop on Calculation of Double-Beta-Decay Matrix Elements, MEDEX '09, Prague, Czech Republic, 6/15/09. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3266086

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title = "Optimization of neutron shielding for the PICASSO experiment",

abstract = "The PICASSO experiment searches WIMPs via their spin-dependent interactions with nuclei. At their operating temperatures, PICASSO threshold detectors are not sensitive to γ-rays, while it is necessary to suppress neutron and α-ray backgrounds. The different types of neutron shielding (water, polyethylene, borated water and polyethylene doped with different compounds of boron and lithium) were studied via the Monte Carlo method using MCNPX code. Efficiencies of these different types of neutron shielding were compared from the point of view of neutron suppression as well as number of newly born y-rays. The neutrons and γ-rays were followed up to the PICASSO detector active material. The most suitable neutron shielding for the PICASSO experiment was determined following these simulations.",

keywords = "Dark matter, MCNPX, Monte Carlo simulations, Neutralino, Neutron shielding",

author = "S. Archambault and F. Aubin and M. Auger and E. Behnke and B. Beltran and B. Biskup and K. Clark and X. Dai and A. Davour and J. Farine and Genest, \{M. H.\} and G. Giroux and R. Gornea and R. Faust and C. Krauss and I. Lawson and C. Leroy and C. Levy and L. Lessard and I. Levine and Martin, \{J. P.\} and S. Kumaratunga and R. MacDonald and P. Nadeau and A. Noble and Piro, \{M. C.\} and S. Pospisil and T. Shepherd and J. Sodomka and N. Starinski and I. Stekl and C. Storey and U. Wichoski and V. Zacek",

year = "2009",

doi = "10.1063/1.3266086",

language = "English (US)",

isbn = "9780735407213",

series = "AIP Conference Proceedings",

pages = "112--116",

booktitle = "Workshop on Calculation of Double-Beta-Decay Matrix Elements (MEDEX '09)",

note = "Workshop on Calculation of Double-Beta-Decay Matrix Elements, MEDEX '09 ; Conference date: 15-06-2009 Through 19-06-2009",

}

TY - GEN

T1 - Optimization of neutron shielding for the PICASSO experiment

AU - Archambault, S.

AU - Aubin, F.

AU - Auger, M.

AU - Behnke, E.

AU - Beltran, B.

AU - Biskup, B.

AU - Clark, K.

AU - Dai, X.

AU - Davour, A.

AU - Farine, J.

AU - Genest, M. H.

AU - Giroux, G.

AU - Gornea, R.

AU - Faust, R.

AU - Krauss, C.

AU - Lawson, I.

AU - Leroy, C.

AU - Levy, C.

AU - Lessard, L.

AU - Levine, I.

AU - Martin, J. P.

AU - Kumaratunga, S.

AU - MacDonald, R.

AU - Nadeau, P.

AU - Noble, A.

AU - Piro, M. C.

AU - Pospisil, S.

AU - Shepherd, T.

AU - Sodomka, J.

AU - Starinski, N.

AU - Stekl, I.

AU - Storey, C.

AU - Wichoski, U.

AU - Zacek, V.

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - The PICASSO experiment searches WIMPs via their spin-dependent interactions with nuclei. At their operating temperatures, PICASSO threshold detectors are not sensitive to γ-rays, while it is necessary to suppress neutron and α-ray backgrounds. The different types of neutron shielding (water, polyethylene, borated water and polyethylene doped with different compounds of boron and lithium) were studied via the Monte Carlo method using MCNPX code. Efficiencies of these different types of neutron shielding were compared from the point of view of neutron suppression as well as number of newly born y-rays. The neutrons and γ-rays were followed up to the PICASSO detector active material. The most suitable neutron shielding for the PICASSO experiment was determined following these simulations.

AB - The PICASSO experiment searches WIMPs via their spin-dependent interactions with nuclei. At their operating temperatures, PICASSO threshold detectors are not sensitive to γ-rays, while it is necessary to suppress neutron and α-ray backgrounds. The different types of neutron shielding (water, polyethylene, borated water and polyethylene doped with different compounds of boron and lithium) were studied via the Monte Carlo method using MCNPX code. Efficiencies of these different types of neutron shielding were compared from the point of view of neutron suppression as well as number of newly born y-rays. The neutrons and γ-rays were followed up to the PICASSO detector active material. The most suitable neutron shielding for the PICASSO experiment was determined following these simulations.

KW - Dark matter

KW - MCNPX

KW - Monte Carlo simulations

KW - Neutralino

KW - Neutron shielding

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/71549165531

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/71549165531#tab=citedBy

U2 - 10.1063/1.3266086

DO - 10.1063/1.3266086

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:71549165531

SN - 9780735407213

T3 - AIP Conference Proceedings

SP - 112

EP - 116

BT - Workshop on Calculation of Double-Beta-Decay Matrix Elements (MEDEX '09)

T2 - Workshop on Calculation of Double-Beta-Decay Matrix Elements, MEDEX '09

Y2 - 15 June 2009 through 19 June 2009

ER -

Optimization of neutron shielding for the PICASSO experiment

Abstract

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Keywords

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