LSM Underground Laboratory – participation of the Czech Republic
r.n. CZ.02.01.01/00/23_015/0008199
Project duration: 01/01/2024 - 31/12/2026
Project partner: National Radiation Protection Institute
Annotation of project:
LSM-CZ supports cooperation with Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane (LSM, the unique deepest underground laboratory in Europe). LSM is a multidisciplinary platform for R&D&I activities requiring ultra-low radioactive background (particle, astroparticle and nuclear physics, radiobiology, radiation medicine, detector technologies, environment, or climatology). The project includes building infrastructure in LSM and in the Czech Republic. The project supports cooperation with technology companies from the Czech Republic (equipment suppliers).
Main objectives of the project:
1) Component of the circulation system for radon removal from He/Ar - wire chambers (in Geiger mode) are used for trekking detectors of charged particles, which are filled with a mixture of He/Ar with a small admixture of alcohol. Detectors of large size have two problems, leaks and, in the case of sensitive measurements, gradual emanation of radon and its penetration into the detector (which results in an increase in the background signal). There are two solutions, the use of a constantly new He (the main component of the internal gas) or a circulation system continuously removing radon from the gas mixture of the trek detector. The first solution is expensive (1 pressure vessel with 9 m3 He costs approximately 12000 CZK) and this solution is not environmentally friendly, so it is necessary to develop and install this circulation system together with the LSM (described in more detail in the Feasibility Study).
2) Technological infrastructure equipment for biological research (cell analyzer, cell counter with incubator camera and accessories) - biological research is also carried out in LSM and home support infrastructure (study of the effect of radiation-free environment on cell behavior). This is a demanding research that needs to expand the necessary facilities in LSM and NRPI (parallel tests). Transport from LSM to NRPI is not a solution, because the cells would be exposed to radioactivity, which would invalidate previous experiments.
3) Test system for measuring radon emanation and diffusion from detector systems and for sensitive radon detection - the cause of the problem is the ever-increasing size of specialized detectors for underground laboratories, where it is very important to test and achieve tightness against radioactivity penetration from the outside. An example is the PICO experiment (dark matter detection) using bubble detectors. For this purpose, the aim of the project is to implement devices (Rn source, tight vessel, sensitive Rn detectors) for the above-mentioned purposes.
Project budget: 4 650 000,- CZK