Work

Measurement of the argon purity by ICP-MS and results of the analysis of the gas used for the MicroBooNE experiment

Year: 2023

Type: conference-paper

Abstract: Measuring the argon purity is critical for all Ar-based rare event research experiments. Mass spectrometry is typically used to assess the uranium and thorium contamination in samples of the materials used to build low-background detectors; however, this technique has the potential to provide other valuable information that is currently not exploited. We have shown that, by ICP-MS, it is possible to identify and quantify common chemical contaminants in argon. Preliminary tests were done with the gas extracted from the experiments MicroBooNE at FNAL and ArDM at LSC. In the former case, we evidenced relevant nitrogen contamination well above the one measured in the commercial argon gas. In ArDM, we identified and quantified the presence of mercury in the gas used for its science run. In both cases, the presence of krypton (~ppb) and xenon (~10s ppb) in argon gas has been established.

Source: AIP conference proceedings

DOI: 10.1063/5.0161118

Authors: R. Santorelli, A. I. Barrado Olmedo, E. Conde Vilda, M. Fernandez Diaz, V. Pesudo, L. Romero

Institution: Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas

Language: English

Topic: Neutrino Physics Research

Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas, Fermilab

Awards: G110725720, G1892734474, G3690828678, G3968781304, G7290792616