Radon Mitigation Applications at the Laboratorio Subterraneo de Canfranc (LSC)

physics.ins-det

/ Authors

J. Perez-Perez, J. C. Amare, I. C. Bandac, A. Bayo, S. Borjabad-Sanchez, J. M. Calvo-Mozota, L. Cid-Barrio, R. Hernandez-Antolin, B. Hernandez-Molinero, P. Novella

and 9 more authors

K. Pelczar, C. Peña-Garay, B. Romeo, A. Ortiz de Solorzano, M. Sorel, J. Torrent, A. Uson, A. Wojna-Pelczar, G. Zuzel

/ Abstract

The Laboratorio Subterra neo de Canfranc (LSC) is the national hub for low radioactivity techniques and the associated scientific and technological applications. The concentration of the airborne radon is a major component of the radioactive budget in the neighborhood of the detectors. The LSC hosts a Radon Abatement System (RAS), which delivers a radon suppressed air with < 1 mBq/m3 of 222Rn. The radon content in the air is continuously monitored with an Electrostatic Radon Monitor (ERM). Measurements with the doble beta decay demonstrators NEXT-NEW and CROSS and the gamma HPGe detectors demonstrate the important reduction of the radioactive background due to the replaced air in the vicinity of the detectors. We also discuss the use of this facility in the LSC current program which includes NEXT-100, low background biology experiments and radiopure copper electroformation equipment placed in the radon-free clean room.