Improvement of radiopurity level of enriched $^{116}$CdWO$_4$ and ZnWO$_4$ crystal scintillators by recrystallization

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that recrystallization significantly reduces radioactive contamination in $^{116}$CdWO$_4$ crystal scintillators, enhancing their suitability for sensitive double beta decay experiments, while having minimal impact on ZnWO$_4$ crystals.

Contribution

The paper shows that recrystallization can lower thorium contamination in $^{116}$CdWO$_4$ crystals by a factor of 10, improving radiopurity for experimental applications.

Findings

Thorough recrystallization reduces $^{228}$Th contamination by a factor of 10.

Recrystallization decreases total alpha activity of uranium and thorium daughters by about 3 times.

No significant change in activity was observed in ZnWO$_4$ crystals after recrystallization.

Abstract

As low as possible radioactive contamination of a detector plays a crucial role to improve sensitivity of a double beta decay experiment. The radioactive contamination of a sample of $^{116}$CdWO$_4$ crystal scintillator by thorium was reduced by a factor $\approx 10$, down to the level 0.01 mBq/kg ($^{228}$Th), by exploiting the recrystallization procedure. The total alpha activity of uranium and thorium daughters was reduced by a factor $\approx 3$, down to 1.6 mBq/kg. No change in the specific activity (the total $\alpha$ activity and $^{228}$Th) was observed in a sample of ZnWO$_4$ crystal produced by recrystallization after removing $\approx 0.4$ mm surface layer of the crystal.