A compact ultra-clean system for deploying radioactive sources inside the KamLAND detector

Abstract

We describe a compact, ultra-clean device used to deploy radioactive sources along the vertical axis of the KamLAND liquid-scintillator neutrino detector for purposes of calibration. The device worked by paying out and reeling in precise lengths of a hanging, small-gauge wire rope (cable); an assortment of interchangeable radioactive sources could be attached to a weight at the end of the cable. All components exposed to the radiopure liquid scintillator were made of chemically compatible UHV-cleaned materials, primarily stainless steel, in order to avoid contaminating or degrading the scintillator. To prevent radon intrusion, the apparatus was enclosed in a hermetically sealed housing inside a glove box, and both volumes were regularly flushed with purified nitrogen gas. An infrared camera attached to the side of the housing permitted real-time visual monitoring of the cable's motion, and the system was controlled via a graphical user interface.

Revised author affiliations, corrected typos, made minor improvements to text, and revised references

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Cited by in corpus (5)

• 7Be Solar Neutrino Measurement with KamLAND
• KamLAND Sensitivity to Neutrinos from Pre-Supernova Stars
• Combined Pre-Supernova Alert System with Kamland and Super-Kamiokande
• Study of electron anti-neutrinos associated with gamma-ray bursts using KamLAND
• CALIS - a CALibration Insertion System for the DarkSide-50 dark matter search experiment