Ultra-sensitive radon assay using an electrostatic chamber in a recirculating system

A. Anker; P. A. Breur; B. Mong; P. Acharya; A. Amy; E. Angelico; I. J. Arnquist; A. Atencio; J. Bane; V. Belov; E. P. Bernard; T. Bhatta; A. Bolotnikov; J. Breslin; J. P. Brodsky; S. Bron; E. Brown; T. Brunner; B. Burnell; E. Caden; L. Q. Cao; G. F. Cao; D. Cesmecioglu; D. Chernyak; M. Chiu; R. Collister; T. Daniels; L. Darroch; R. DeVoe; M. L. di Vacri; Y. Y. Ding; M. J. Dolinski; A. Dragone; B. Eckert; M. Elbeltagi; A. Emara; W. Fairbank; N. Fatemighomi; B. Foust; Y. S. Fu; D. Gallacher; N. Gallice; G. Giacomini; W. Gillis; A. Gorham; R. Gornea; G. Gratta; Y. D. Guan; C. A. Hardy; S. Hedges; M. Heffner; E. Hein; J. D. Holt; A. Iverson; X. S. Jiang; A. Karelin; D. Keblbeck; I. Kotov; A. Kuchenkov; K. S. Kumar; A. Larson; M. B. Latif; K. G. Leach; B. G. Lenardo; A. Lennarz; D. S. Leonard; K. Leung; H. Lewis; G. Li; X. Li; Z. Li; C. Licciardi; R. Lindsay; R. MacLellan; S. Majidi; C. Malbrunot; M. Marquis; J. Masbou; M. Medina-Peregrina; S. Mngonyama; D. C. Moore; X. E. Ngwadla; K. Ni; A. Nolan; S. C. Nowicki; J. C. Nzobadila Ondze; A. Odian; J. L. Orrell; G. S. Ortega; C. T. Overman; L. Pagani; H. Peltz Smalley; A. Perna; A. Piepke; A. Pocar; V. Radeka; E. Raguzin; R. Rai; H. Rasiwala; D. Ray; S. Rescia; F. Retière; G. Richardson; N. Rocco; R. Ross; P. C. Rowson; R. Saldanha; S. Sangiorgio; S. Sekula; T. Shetty; L. Si; F. Spadoni; V. Stekhanov; X. L. Sun; S. Thibado; T. Totev; S. Triambak; R. H.M. Tsang; O. A. Tyuka; E. van Bruggen; M. Vidal; S. Viel; M. Walent; H. Wang; Q. D. Wang; Y. G. Wang; M. Watts; M. Wehrfritz; W. Wei; L. J. Wen; U. Wichoski; S. Wilde; M. Worcester; X. M. Wu; H. Xu; H. B. Yang; L. Yang; M. Yu; O. Zeldovich; J. Zhao

doi:10.1016/j.nima.2025.170876

Ultra-sensitive radon assay using an electrostatic chamber in a recirculating system

A. Anker
, P. A. Breur
, B. Mong
, P. Acharya
, A. Amy
, E. Angelico
, I. J. Arnquist
, A. Atencio
, J. Bane
, V. Belov
, E. P. Bernard
, T. Bhatta
, A. Bolotnikov
, J. Breslin
, J. P. Brodsky
, S. Bron
, E. Brown
, T. Brunner
, B. Burnell
, E. Caden

L. Q. Cao, G. F. Cao, D. Cesmecioglu, D. Chernyak, M. Chiu, R. Collister, T. Daniels, L. Darroch, R. DeVoe, M. L. di Vacri, Y. Y. Ding, M. J. Dolinski, A. Dragone, B. Eckert, M. Elbeltagi, A. Emara, W. Fairbank, N. Fatemighomi, B. Foust, Y. S. Fu, D. Gallacher, N. Gallice, G. Giacomini, W. Gillis, A. Gorham, R. Gornea, G. Gratta, Y. D. Guan, C. A. Hardy, S. Hedges, M. Heffner, E. Hein, J. D. Holt, A. Iverson, X. S. Jiang, A. Karelin, D. Keblbeck, I. Kotov, A. Kuchenkov, K. S. Kumar, A. Larson, M. B. Latif, K. G. Leach, B. G. Lenardo, A. Lennarz, D. S. Leonard, K. Leung, H. Lewis, G. Li, X. Li, Z. Li, C. Licciardi, R. Lindsay, R. MacLellan, S. Majidi, C. Malbrunot, M. Marquis, J. Masbou, M. Medina-Peregrina, S. Mngonyama, D. C. Moore, X. E. Ngwadla, K. Ni, A. Nolan, S. C. Nowicki, J. C. Nzobadila Ondze, A. Odian, J. L. Orrell, G. S. Ortega, C. T. Overman, L. Pagani, H. Peltz Smalley, A. Perna, A. Piepke, A. Pocar, V. Radeka, E. Raguzin, R. Rai, H. Rasiwala, D. Ray, S. Rescia, F. Retière, G. Richardson, N. Rocco, R. Ross, P. C. Rowson, R. Saldanha, S. Sangiorgio, S. Sekula, T. Shetty, L. Si, F. Spadoni, V. Stekhanov, X. L. Sun, S. Thibado, T. Totev, S. Triambak, R. H.M. Tsang, O. A. Tyuka, E. van Bruggen, M. Vidal, S. Viel, M. Walent, H. Wang, Q. D. Wang, Y. G. Wang, M. Watts, M. Wehrfritz, W. Wei, L. J. Wen, U. Wichoski, S. Wilde, M. Worcester, X. M. Wu, H. Xu, H. B. Yang, L. Yang, M. Yu, O. Zeldovich, J. Zhao

Physics and Astronomy

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Rare event searches such as neutrinoless double beta decay and Weakly Interacting Massive Particle detection require ultra-low background detectors. Radon contamination is a significant challenge for these experiments, which employ highly sensitive radon assay techniques to identify and select low-emission materials. This work presents the development of ultra-sensitive electrostatic chamber (ESC) instruments designed to measure radon emanation in a recirculating gas loop, for future lower background experiments. Unlike traditional methods that separate emanation and detection steps, this system allows continuous radon transport and detection. This is made possible with a custom-built recirculation pump. A Python-based analysis framework, PyDAn, was developed to process and fit time-dependent radon decay data. Radon emanation rates are given for various materials measured with this instrument. A radon source of known activity provides an absolute calibration, enabling statistically-limited minimal detectable activities of 20 μBq. These devices are powerful tools for screening materials in the development of low-background particle physics experiments.

Original language	English
Article number	170876
Journal	Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Volume	1081
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2025.170876
State	Published - Jan 2026

Keywords

Electrostatic chamber
Low-background detectors
Neutrinos
Radioactivity assay
Radon

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10.1016/j.nima.2025.170876

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Anker, A., Breur, P. A., Mong, B., Acharya, P., Amy, A., Angelico, E., Arnquist, I. J., Atencio, A., Bane, J., Belov, V., Bernard, E. P., Bhatta, T., Bolotnikov, A., Breslin, J., Brodsky, J. P., Bron, S., Brown, E., Brunner, T., Burnell, B., ... Zhao, J. (2026). Ultra-sensitive radon assay using an electrostatic chamber in a recirculating system. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 1081, Article 170876. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2025.170876

@article{b71f6a6ab4f9460d85f37339edfe2bfd,

title = "Ultra-sensitive radon assay using an electrostatic chamber in a recirculating system",

abstract = "Rare event searches such as neutrinoless double beta decay and Weakly Interacting Massive Particle detection require ultra-low background detectors. Radon contamination is a significant challenge for these experiments, which employ highly sensitive radon assay techniques to identify and select low-emission materials. This work presents the development of ultra-sensitive electrostatic chamber (ESC) instruments designed to measure radon emanation in a recirculating gas loop, for future lower background experiments. Unlike traditional methods that separate emanation and detection steps, this system allows continuous radon transport and detection. This is made possible with a custom-built recirculation pump. A Python-based analysis framework, PyDAn, was developed to process and fit time-dependent radon decay data. Radon emanation rates are given for various materials measured with this instrument. A radon source of known activity provides an absolute calibration, enabling statistically-limited minimal detectable activities of 20 μBq. These devices are powerful tools for screening materials in the development of low-background particle physics experiments.",

keywords = "Electrostatic chamber, Low-background detectors, Neutrinos, Radioactivity assay, Radon",

author = "A. Anker and Breur, \{P. A.\} and B. Mong and P. Acharya and A. Amy and E. Angelico and Arnquist, \{I. J.\} and A. Atencio and J. Bane and V. Belov and Bernard, \{E. P.\} and T. Bhatta and A. Bolotnikov and J. Breslin and Brodsky, \{J. P.\} and S. Bron and E. Brown and T. Brunner and B. Burnell and E. Caden and Cao, \{L. Q.\} and Cao, \{G. F.\} and D. Cesmecioglu and D. Chernyak and M. Chiu and R. Collister and T. Daniels and L. Darroch and R. DeVoe and \{di Vacri\}, \{M. L.\} and Ding, \{Y. Y.\} and Dolinski, \{M. J.\} and A. Dragone and B. Eckert and M. Elbeltagi and A. Emara and W. Fairbank and N. Fatemighomi and B. Foust and Fu, \{Y. S.\} and D. Gallacher and N. Gallice and G. Giacomini and W. Gillis and A. Gorham and R. Gornea and G. Gratta and Guan, \{Y. D.\} and Hardy, \{C. A.\} and S. Hedges and M. Heffner and E. Hein and Holt, \{J. D.\} and A. Iverson and Jiang, \{X. S.\} and A. Karelin and D. Keblbeck and I. Kotov and A. Kuchenkov and Kumar, \{K. S.\} and A. Larson and Latif, \{M. B.\} and Leach, \{K. G.\} and Lenardo, \{B. G.\} and A. Lennarz and Leonard, \{D. S.\} and K. Leung and H. Lewis and G. Li and X. Li and Z. Li and C. Licciardi and R. Lindsay and R. MacLellan and S. Majidi and C. Malbrunot and M. Marquis and J. Masbou and M. Medina-Peregrina and S. Mngonyama and Moore, \{D. C.\} and Ngwadla, \{X. E.\} and K. Ni and A. Nolan and Nowicki, \{S. C.\} and \{Nzobadila Ondze\}, \{J. C.\} and A. Odian and Orrell, \{J. L.\} and Ortega, \{G. S.\} and Overman, \{C. T.\} and L. Pagani and \{Peltz Smalley\}, H. and A. Perna and A. Piepke and A. Pocar and V. Radeka and E. Raguzin and R. Rai and H. Rasiwala and D. Ray and S. Rescia and F. Reti{\`e}re and G. Richardson and N. Rocco and R. Ross and Rowson, \{P. C.\} and R. Saldanha and S. Sangiorgio and S. Sekula and T. Shetty and L. Si and F. Spadoni and V. Stekhanov and Sun, \{X. L.\} and S. Thibado and T. Totev and S. Triambak and Tsang, \{R. H.M.\} and Tyuka, \{O. A.\} and \{van Bruggen\}, E. and M. Vidal and S. Viel and M. Walent and H. Wang and Wang, \{Q. D.\} and Wang, \{Y. G.\} and M. Watts and M. Wehrfritz and W. Wei and Wen, \{L. J.\} and U. Wichoski and S. Wilde and M. Worcester and Wu, \{X. M.\} and H. Xu and Yang, \{H. B.\} and L. Yang and M. Yu and O. Zeldovich and J. Zhao",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 The Authors",

year = "2026",

month = jan,

doi = "10.1016/j.nima.2025.170876",

language = "English",

volume = "1081",

journal = "Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment",

issn = "0168-9002",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

}

Anker, A, Breur, PA, Mong, B, Acharya, P, Amy, A, Angelico, E, Arnquist, IJ, Atencio, A, Bane, J, Belov, V, Bernard, EP, Bhatta, T, Bolotnikov, A, Breslin, J, Brodsky, JP, Bron, S, Brown, E, Brunner, T, Burnell, B, Caden, E, Cao, LQ, Cao, GF, Cesmecioglu, D, Chernyak, D, Chiu, M, Collister, R, Daniels, T, Darroch, L, DeVoe, R, di Vacri, ML, Ding, YY, Dolinski, MJ, Dragone, A, Eckert, B, Elbeltagi, M, Emara, A, Fairbank, W, Fatemighomi, N, Foust, B, Fu, YS, Gallacher, D, Gallice, N, Giacomini, G, Gillis, W, Gorham, A, Gornea, R, Gratta, G, Guan, YD, Hardy, CA, Hedges, S, Heffner, M, Hein, E, Holt, JD, Iverson, A, Jiang, XS, Karelin, A, Keblbeck, D, Kotov, I, Kuchenkov, A, Kumar, KS, Larson, A, Latif, MB, Leach, KG, Lenardo, BG, Lennarz, A, Leonard, DS, Leung, K, Lewis, H, Li, G, Li, X, Li, Z, Licciardi, C, Lindsay, R, MacLellan, R, Majidi, S, Malbrunot, C, Marquis, M, Masbou, J, Medina-Peregrina, M, Mngonyama, S, Moore, DC, Ngwadla, XE, Ni, K, Nolan, A, Nowicki, SC, Nzobadila Ondze, JC, Odian, A, Orrell, JL, Ortega, GS, Overman, CT, Pagani, L, Peltz Smalley, H, Perna, A, Piepke, A, Pocar, A, Radeka, V, Raguzin, E, Rai, R, Rasiwala, H, Ray, D, Rescia, S, Retière, F, Richardson, G, Rocco, N, Ross, R, Rowson, PC, Saldanha, R, Sangiorgio, S, Sekula, S, Shetty, T, Si, L, Spadoni, F, Stekhanov, V, Sun, XL, Thibado, S, Totev, T, Triambak, S, Tsang, RHM, Tyuka, OA, van Bruggen, E, Vidal, M, Viel, S, Walent, M, Wang, H, Wang, QD, Wang, YG, Watts, M, Wehrfritz, M, Wei, W, Wen, LJ, Wichoski, U, Wilde, S, Worcester, M, Wu, XM, Xu, H, Yang, HB, Yang, L, Yu, M, Zeldovich, O & Zhao, J 2026, 'Ultra-sensitive radon assay using an electrostatic chamber in a recirculating system', Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, vol. 1081, 170876. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2025.170876

TY - JOUR

T1 - Ultra-sensitive radon assay using an electrostatic chamber in a recirculating system

AU - Anker, A.

AU - Breur, P. A.

AU - Mong, B.

AU - Acharya, P.

AU - Amy, A.

AU - Angelico, E.

AU - Arnquist, I. J.

AU - Atencio, A.

AU - Bane, J.

AU - Belov, V.

AU - Bernard, E. P.

AU - Bhatta, T.

AU - Bolotnikov, A.

AU - Breslin, J.

AU - Brodsky, J. P.

AU - Bron, S.

AU - Brown, E.

AU - Brunner, T.

AU - Burnell, B.

AU - Caden, E.

AU - Cao, L. Q.

AU - Cao, G. F.

AU - Cesmecioglu, D.

AU - Chernyak, D.

AU - Chiu, M.

AU - Collister, R.

AU - Daniels, T.

AU - Darroch, L.

AU - DeVoe, R.

AU - di Vacri, M. L.

AU - Ding, Y. Y.

AU - Dolinski, M. J.

AU - Dragone, A.

AU - Eckert, B.

AU - Elbeltagi, M.

AU - Emara, A.

AU - Fairbank, W.

AU - Fatemighomi, N.

AU - Foust, B.

AU - Fu, Y. S.

AU - Gallacher, D.

AU - Gallice, N.

AU - Giacomini, G.

AU - Gillis, W.

AU - Gorham, A.

AU - Gornea, R.

AU - Gratta, G.

AU - Guan, Y. D.

AU - Hardy, C. A.

AU - Hedges, S.

AU - Heffner, M.

AU - Hein, E.

AU - Holt, J. D.

AU - Iverson, A.

AU - Jiang, X. S.

AU - Karelin, A.

AU - Keblbeck, D.

AU - Kotov, I.

AU - Kuchenkov, A.

AU - Kumar, K. S.

AU - Larson, A.

AU - Latif, M. B.

AU - Leach, K. G.

AU - Lenardo, B. G.

AU - Lennarz, A.

AU - Leonard, D. S.

AU - Leung, K.

AU - Lewis, H.

AU - Li, G.

AU - Li, X.

AU - Li, Z.

AU - Licciardi, C.

AU - Lindsay, R.

AU - MacLellan, R.

AU - Majidi, S.

AU - Malbrunot, C.

AU - Marquis, M.

AU - Masbou, J.

AU - Medina-Peregrina, M.

AU - Mngonyama, S.

AU - Moore, D. C.

AU - Ngwadla, X. E.

AU - Ni, K.

AU - Nolan, A.

AU - Nowicki, S. C.

AU - Nzobadila Ondze, J. C.

AU - Odian, A.

AU - Orrell, J. L.

AU - Ortega, G. S.

AU - Overman, C. T.

AU - Pagani, L.

AU - Peltz Smalley, H.

AU - Perna, A.

AU - Piepke, A.

AU - Pocar, A.

AU - Radeka, V.

AU - Raguzin, E.

AU - Rai, R.

AU - Rasiwala, H.

AU - Ray, D.

AU - Rescia, S.

AU - Retière, F.

AU - Richardson, G.

AU - Rocco, N.

AU - Ross, R.

AU - Rowson, P. C.

AU - Saldanha, R.

AU - Sangiorgio, S.

AU - Sekula, S.

AU - Shetty, T.

AU - Si, L.

AU - Spadoni, F.

AU - Stekhanov, V.

AU - Sun, X. L.

AU - Thibado, S.

AU - Totev, T.

AU - Triambak, S.

AU - Tsang, R. H.M.

AU - Tyuka, O. A.

AU - van Bruggen, E.

AU - Vidal, M.

AU - Viel, S.

AU - Walent, M.

AU - Wang, H.

AU - Wang, Q. D.

AU - Wang, Y. G.

AU - Watts, M.

AU - Wehrfritz, M.

AU - Wei, W.

AU - Wen, L. J.

AU - Wichoski, U.

AU - Wilde, S.

AU - Worcester, M.

AU - Wu, X. M.

AU - Xu, H.

AU - Yang, H. B.

AU - Yang, L.

AU - Yu, M.

AU - Zeldovich, O.

AU - Zhao, J.

PY - 2026/1

Y1 - 2026/1

N2 - Rare event searches such as neutrinoless double beta decay and Weakly Interacting Massive Particle detection require ultra-low background detectors. Radon contamination is a significant challenge for these experiments, which employ highly sensitive radon assay techniques to identify and select low-emission materials. This work presents the development of ultra-sensitive electrostatic chamber (ESC) instruments designed to measure radon emanation in a recirculating gas loop, for future lower background experiments. Unlike traditional methods that separate emanation and detection steps, this system allows continuous radon transport and detection. This is made possible with a custom-built recirculation pump. A Python-based analysis framework, PyDAn, was developed to process and fit time-dependent radon decay data. Radon emanation rates are given for various materials measured with this instrument. A radon source of known activity provides an absolute calibration, enabling statistically-limited minimal detectable activities of 20 μBq. These devices are powerful tools for screening materials in the development of low-background particle physics experiments.

AB - Rare event searches such as neutrinoless double beta decay and Weakly Interacting Massive Particle detection require ultra-low background detectors. Radon contamination is a significant challenge for these experiments, which employ highly sensitive radon assay techniques to identify and select low-emission materials. This work presents the development of ultra-sensitive electrostatic chamber (ESC) instruments designed to measure radon emanation in a recirculating gas loop, for future lower background experiments. Unlike traditional methods that separate emanation and detection steps, this system allows continuous radon transport and detection. This is made possible with a custom-built recirculation pump. A Python-based analysis framework, PyDAn, was developed to process and fit time-dependent radon decay data. Radon emanation rates are given for various materials measured with this instrument. A radon source of known activity provides an absolute calibration, enabling statistically-limited minimal detectable activities of 20 μBq. These devices are powerful tools for screening materials in the development of low-background particle physics experiments.

KW - Electrostatic chamber

KW - Low-background detectors

KW - Neutrinos

KW - Radioactivity assay

KW - Radon

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105012239174

U2 - 10.1016/j.nima.2025.170876

DO - 10.1016/j.nima.2025.170876

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105012239174

SN - 0168-9002

VL - 1081

JO - Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

JF - Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

M1 - 170876

ER -

Ultra-sensitive radon assay using an electrostatic chamber in a recirculating system

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