Neutron flux and spectrum in the Dresden Felsenkeller underground facility studied by moderated 
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Grieger, Michael; Hensel, Thomas; Agramunt, J.; Bemmerer, D.; Degering, D.; Dillmann, I.; Fraile, L. M.; Jordán, D.; Köster, U.; Marta, M.; Müller, S.; Szücs, T.; Taín, J. L.; Zuber, Κ.

doi:10.1103/physrevd.101.123027

Cited by 18 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…The knowledge on the muon intensity and angular distribution will be instrumental in studies of muon-induced neutrons [32] and in properly positioning muon veto detectors for the planned accelerator-based experiments in tunnels VIII and IX.…”

Section: Conclusion Summary and Outlookmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The muon intensity in the Felsenkeller shallow underground laboratory

Ludwig

Wagner

Al-Abdullah

et al. 2019

Astroparticle Physics

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The muon intensity and angular distribution in the shallow-underground laboratory Felsenkeller in Dresden, Germany have been studied using a portable muon detector based on the close cathode chamber design. Data has been taken at four positions in Felsenkeller tunnels VIII and IX, where a new 5 MV underground ion accelerator is being installed, and in addition at four positions in Felsenkeller tunnel IV, which hosts a low-radioactivity counting facility. At each of the eight positions studied, seven different orientations of the detector were used to compile a map of the upper hemisphere with 0.85 • angular resolution. The muon intensity is found to be suppressed by a factor of 40 due to the 45 m thick rock overburden, corresponding to 140 meters water equivalent. The angular data are matched by two different simulations taking into account the known geodetic features of the terrain: First, simply by determining the cutoff energy using the projected slant depth in rock and the known muon energy spectrum, and second, in a Geant4 simulation propagating the muons through a column of rock equal to the known slant depth. The present data are instrumental for studying muon-induced effects at these depths and also in the planning of an active veto for accelerator-based underground nuclear astrophysics experiments. [34,35] that such a veto may reduce the observed background in γ-detectors typical for in-beam nuclear astrophysics experiments to a level that is close to the background in the same detectors deep underground, underlining the importance of a proper muon veto.This work is organized as follows. The underground site is described in sec. 2. Section 3 introduces the experimental setup, including the REGARD muon telescope used here, and experimental procedures. The data analysis and results are presented in sec. 4. The data are then matched, first, by a calculation based on the known rangeenergy relation, and second, by a Monte Carlo simulation using the Geant4 framework (sec. 5). A discussion is offered in sec. 6. The conclusions, a summary and an outlook are given in sec. 7. Description of the underground site studiedThe shallow-underground site Felsenkeller is located in the Plauenscher Grund district, inside the city of Dresden, Germany. The site extends along the Weißeritz river, a tributary of the Elbe, and was used as a quarry until the 18th century, then converted to a brewery, which in turn closed in 1991. The terrain is characterized by a steep cliff that runs from Northeast to Southwest, an approximately flat high plain at 200 m a.s.l. and a river floodplain at 140 m a.s.l. (Fig. 1).Nine horizontal storage tunnels were dug into the rock from 1856 to 1859. All nine tunnels have horizontal access and are interconnected in a comb-like structure (Fig. 2). The site is protected from cosmic rays by an overburden of 45 m of hornblende monzonite rock, part of the "Meißner Massiv" formation. The density of rock samples taken from the tunnels VIII and IX was here found to be (2.69±0.06) g/cm 3 . The hornblende mon...

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Section: Conclusion Summary and Outlookmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The muon data developed here will be used in forthcoming work [32] addressing the recent debate on muoninduced neutrons underground [33]. In addition, it will be instrumental for designing an active veto for underground nuclear astrophysics experiments planned in Felsenkeller tunnels VIII and IX [25].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The muon intensity in the Felsenkeller shallow underground laboratory

Ludwig

Wagner

Al-Abdullah

et al. 2019

Astroparticle Physics

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“…Further details on the spectrometer development and the Monte Carlo simulations of its response will be provided in a forthcoming publication [24]. Knowing the HENSA response, which depends on the efficiency of each detector as a function of neutron energy, a deconvolution procedure allows to combine the neutron rates measured by every counter to deduce both the absolute value and spectral shape of the neutron flux [16][17][18]23]. HENSA employs nuclear digital electronics.…”

Section: The Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since the neutron background in UG laboratories is low, measurements have a low rate and last for months, demanding detectors with high efficiency for neutron detection, high background discrimination capability and long-term stability. These requirements are fulfilled by moderated 3 He proportional counters [10,[16][17][18]. In particular, Ref.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term evolution of the neutron rate at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory

Orrigo¹,

Tain²,

Mont-Geli³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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We report results on the long-term variation of the neutron rate at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory, of importance for the rare event searches located there. The measurement campaign was performed employing the High Efficiency Neutron Spectrometry Array (HENSA) mounted in Hall A and lasted 412 live days. The present study is the first long-term measurement of the neutron rate with sensitivity over a wide range of neutron energies (from thermal to 10 GeV) carried on in any underground laboratory so far. Data on the environmental variables inside the experimental hall (radon concentration, air temperature, pressure and humidity) were also acquired during all the measurement campaign. We have investigated for the first time the evolution of the neutron rate for different energies of the neutrons and its connection with the ambient variables.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term evolution of the neutron rate at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory

Orrigo

Taı́n

Mont-Geli³

et al. 2022

Eur. Phys. J. C

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We report results on the long-term variation of the neutron counting rate at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory, of importance for several low-background experiments installed there, including rare-event searches. The measurement campaign was performed employing the High Efficiency Neutron Spectrometry Array (HENSA) mounted in Hall A and lasted 412 live days. The present study is the first long-term measurement of the neutron rate with sensitivity over a wide range of neutron energies (from thermal up to 0.1 GeV and beyond) performed in any underground laboratory so far. Data on the environmental variables inside the experimental hall (radon concentration, air temperature, air pressure and humidity) were also acquired during all the measurement campaign. We have investigated for the first time the evolution of the neutron rate for different energies of the neutrons and its correlation with the ambient variables.

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Neutron flux and spectrum in the Dresden Felsenkeller underground facility studied by moderated He3 counters

Cited by 18 publications

References 56 publications

The muon intensity in the Felsenkeller shallow underground laboratory

The muon intensity in the Felsenkeller shallow underground laboratory

Long-term evolution of the neutron rate at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory

Long-term evolution of the neutron rate at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory

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