Enhanced sensitivity to trace <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mmultiscripts> <mml:mi mathvariant="normal">U</mml:mi> <mml:mprescripts/> <mml:none/> <mml:mn>238</mml:mn> </mml:mmultiscripts> </mml:mrow> </mml:

Sapphire has mechanical and electrical properties that are advantageous for the construction of internal components of radiation detectors such as time projection chambers and bolometers. However, it has proved difficult to assess its $\rm ^{232}Th$ and $\rm ^{238}U$ content down to the picogram per gram level. This work reports an experimental verification of a computational study that demonstrates $γγ$ coincidence counting, coupled with neutron activation analysis (NAA), can reach ppt sensitivities. Combining results from $γγ$ coincidence counting with those of earlier single-$γ$ counting based NAA shows that a sample of Saint Gobain sapphire has $\rm ^{232}Th$ and $\rm ^{238}U$ concentrations of $<0.26$ ppt and $<2.3$ ppt, respectively; the best constraints on the radiopurity of sapphire.

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Publication Details

Journal
Physical review. C
Published
2025-10-23
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1103/zgzm-w5f4
Primary Topic
Radiation Detection and Scintillator Technologies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Enhanced sensitivity to trace <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mmultiscripts> <mml:mi mathvariant="normal">U</mml:mi> <mml:mprescripts/> <mml:none/> <mml:mn>238</mml:mn> </mml:mmultiscripts> </mml:mrow> </mml:

Karl J. Friston
Physical review. C
Radiation Detection and Scintillator Technologies
article

Enhanced sensitivity to trace <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mmultiscripts> <mml:mi mathvariant="normal">U</mml:mi> <mml:mprescripts/> <mml:none/> <mml:mn>238</mml:mn> </mml:mmultiscripts> </mml:mrow> </mml:

Karl J. Friston
article en

Abstract

Sapphire has mechanical and electrical properties that are advantageous for the construction of internal components of radiation detectors such as time projection chambers and bolometers. However, it has proved difficult to assess its $\rm ^{232}Th$ and $\rm ^{238}U$ content down to the picogram per gram level. This work reports an experimental verification of a computational study that demonstrates $γγ$ coincidence counting, coupled with neutron activation analysis (NAA), can reach ppt sensitivities. Combining results from $γγ$ coincidence counting with those of earlier single-$γ$ counting based NAA shows that a sample of Saint Gobain sapphire has $\rm ^{232}Th$ and $\rm ^{238}U$ concentrations of $<0.26$ ppt and $<2.3$ ppt, respectively; the best constraints on the radiopurity of sapphire.

Physical review. CVol. 113(1)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (US), University of Kentucky (US), University of North Carolina Wilmington (US), Duke University (US), University of Alabama (US), University of Massachusetts Amherst (US), Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory (US)
Openalex Percentile: Top 52%
Radiation Detection and Scintillator Technologies
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Enhanced sensitivity to trace <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mmultiscripts> <mml:mi mathvariant="normal">U</mml:mi> <mml:mprescripts/> <mml:none/> <mml:mn>238</mml:mn> </mml:mmultiscripts> </mml:mrow> </mml: — Karl J. Friston · Physical review. C (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS