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

TL;DR

This paper describes the implementation and results of radon mitigation techniques at the Laboratorio Subterraneo de Canfranc, highlighting their effectiveness in reducing background radiation for sensitive experiments.

Contribution

It presents the Radon Abatement System at LSC and demonstrates its impact on lowering radon levels and background radiation in various experimental setups.

Findings

Radon levels were reduced to below 1 mBq/m3 with the RAS.

Significant background reduction observed near detectors.

Facility supports multiple low-background experiments.

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.