Improvement of radiopurity level of enriched ${}^{116}$CdWO${}_4$ and ZnWO${}_4$ crystal scintillators by 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 $\hat{I}\pm$ 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.

14 pages, 5 figures and 2 tables