A 83Krm Source for Use in Low-background Liquid Xenon Time Projection Chambers

TL;DR

This paper presents a charcoal-based Kr-83m source suitable for calibrating low-background liquid xenon detectors, enabling quick and periodic low-energy calibration through detected scintillation and ionization signals.

Contribution

The study demonstrates the development and testing of a Kr-83m source using Rb-83 decay for effective calibration of low-background liquid xenon detectors.

Findings

Kr-83m atoms can be introduced via xenon gas flow past Rb-83 source

Detected 9.4 keV and 32.1 keV transitions confirm source functionality

Source characteristics are suitable for low-background detector calibration

Abstract

We report the testing of a charcoal-based Kr-83m source for use in calibrating a low background two-phase liquid xenon detector. Kr-83m atoms produced through the decay of Rb-83 are introduced into a xenon detector by flowing xenon gas past the Rb-83 source. 9.4 keV and 32.1 keV transitions from decaying 83Krm nuclei are detected through liquid xenon scintillation and ionization. The characteristics of the Kr-83m source are analyzed and shown to be appropriate for a low background liquid xenon detector. Introduction of Kr-83m allows for quick, periodic calibration of low background noble liquid detectors at low energy.