Investigating high radio-purity electroformation capabilities at Boulby Underground Laboratory
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Birmingham
Department Name: School of Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
Extreme radiopurity is key for rare-event searches in particle physics, including searches for Dark Matter (DM) and neutrinoless double beta-decay. Electroformed copper (EFCu) is the material of choice for manufacturing ultra-high radiopurity structures for experiments and radio-assay programs. In particular, EFCu produced in clean-rooms at underground laboratories maximises radiopurity by avoiding cosmogenic activation. SNOLab in Canada is working towards establishing the world's largest underground electroforming facility by hosting the Electroformed CUprum Manufacturing Experiment (ECUME). ECUME aspires to deliver a 140 cm in diameter spherical proportional counter for use in direct DM searches, with construction scheduled to start early in 2021. Through Birmingham's contribution to ECUME, the unique opportunity arises for Boulby Underground Laboratory, and the UK in general, to acquire expertise on high radio-purity EFCu, towards establishing an underground electroforming capability. This development will further strengthen Boulby's world-leading ultra-low background material assay facility and the capacity to support and host future experimental activities.
Publications
Adari P
(2022)
EXCESS workshop: Descriptions of rising low-energy spectra
in SciPost Physics Proceedings
Arnaud Q
(2022)
Solar Kaluza-Klein axion search with NEWS-G
in Physical Review D
Balogh L
(2022)
The NEWS-G detector at SNOLAB
Balogh L
(2023)
The NEWS-G detector at SNOLAB
in Journal of Instrumentation
Balogh L
(2023)
Exploring light dark matter with the DarkSPHERE spherical proportional counter electroformed underground at the Boulby Underground Laboratory
in Physical Review D
G Collaboration
(2021)
Solar Kaluza-Klein axion search with NEWS-G
Knights P
(2023)
Status and future prospects of the NEWS-G experiment
in SciPost Physics Proceedings
Description | High Radiopurity Copper ElectroFormation at the Boulby Underground Laboratory |
Amount | £141,032 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/W005611/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2022 |
End | 03/2022 |
Description | High radiopurity underground copper electroformation |
Organisation | Queen's University |
Country | Canada |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Copper electroformation |
Collaborator Contribution | infrastructure, radio-assay techniques, electro-chemistry |
Impact | Development of underground electroforming capabilities for the Boulby Underground Laboratory, UK's deep underground science facility. |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | High radiopurity underground copper electroformation |
Organisation | Rutherford Appleton Laboratory |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Copper electroformation |
Collaborator Contribution | infrastructure, radio-assay techniques, electro-chemistry |
Impact | Development of underground electroforming capabilities for the Boulby Underground Laboratory, UK's deep underground science facility. |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | High radiopurity underground copper electroformation |
Organisation | U.S. Department of Energy |
Department | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory |
Country | United States |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Copper electroformation |
Collaborator Contribution | infrastructure, radio-assay techniques, electro-chemistry |
Impact | Development of underground electroforming capabilities for the Boulby Underground Laboratory, UK's deep underground science facility. |
Start Year | 2021 |