Neutron spectrum measurement in the Yemi underground laboratory

TL;DR

This study measures neutron energy spectra at the Yemi Underground Laboratory using a high-sensitivity spectrometer, providing detailed neutron flux data crucial for dark matter and rare-event experiments.

Contribution

First detailed neutron spectrum measurement at Yemi Underground Laboratory employing a novel background subtraction and unfolding method.

Findings

Neutron count rates ranged from 3.24 to 4.01 x 10^{-5} cm^{-2} s^{-1}.

Thermal and fast neutron components quantified separately.

Background contributions from U and Th were effectively characterized and subtracted.

Abstract

We report on the measurement of neutron energy spectra at the newly established Yemi Underground Laboratory (Yemilab) in the Republic of Korea, designed to host dark matter and rare-event search experiments. A high-sensitivity neutron spectrometer was employed, consisting of ten cylindrical {}^{3}He proportional counters, eight of which were embedded in cylindrical high-density polyethylene moderators of various sizes. To quantify and mitigate contributions from internal \alpha-backgrounds, each detector underwent a dedicated background measurement using a cadmium-shielded box. These backgrounds, primarily originating from trace amounts of U and Th in the stainless-steel housings, were characterized and subtracted during data analysis. Neutron measurements were carried out at three locations within the Yemilab between March to October 2023. After waveform-based event selection and correction for \alphasym-backgrounds, neutron count rates were estimated and corresponding energy spectra were reconstructed using the unfolding method. The total neutron fluence rates were measured ranged from (3.24 $\pm$ 0.11) to (4.01 $\pm$ 0.10) $\times~10^{-5}~ {cm}^{-2}~{s}^{-1}$, with thermal and fast neutron components (1 - 10 MeV) ranging from (1.32 $\pm$ 0.05) to (1.51 $\pm$ 0.05) $\times 10^{-5}~{cm}^{-2}~{s}^{-1}$ and (0.27 $\pm$ 0.03) to (0.34 $\pm$ 0.10) $\times~10^{-5}~{cm}^{-2}~{s}^{-1}$, respectively.