Material radiopurity control in the XENONnT experiment

The selection of low-radioactive construction materials is of the utmost importance for rare-event searches and thus critical to the XENONnT experiment. Results of an extensive radioassay program are reported, in which material samples have been screened with gamma-ray spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and Rn-222 emanation measurements. Furthermore, the cleanliness procedures applied to remove or mitigate surface contamination of detector materials are described. Screening results, used as inputs for a XENONnT Monte Carlo simulation, predict a reduction of materials background (similar to 17%) with respect to its predecessor XENON1T. Through radon emanation measurements, the expected Rn-222 activity concentration in XENONnT is determined to be 4.2 (-(+0.5)(0.7)) mu Bq/kg, a factor three lower with respect to XENON1T. This radon concentration will be further suppressed by means of the novel radon distillation system.

Automated summary

The selection of low-radioactive construction materials is crucial for the XENONnT experiment. Extensive radioassay program results show a reduction in materials background by about 17% compared to the predecessor, XENON1T. The expected Rn-222 activity concentration in XENONnT is determined to be three times lower than XENON1T, and it will be further reduced by a novel radon distillation system.