A detection system to measure muon-induced neutrons for direct Dark Matter searches

Authors :: Kozlov, V. Yu.
Armengaud, E.
Augier, C.
Benoit, A.
Berge, L.
Besida, O.
Blumer, J.
Broniatowski, A.
Brudanin, V.
Chantelauze, A.
Chapellier, M.
Chardin, G.
Charlieux, F.
Collin, S.
Defay, X.
De Jesus, M.
Di Stefano, P.
Dolgorouki, Y.
Domange, J.
Dumoulin, L.
Eitel, K.
Gascon, J.
Gerbier, G.
Gros, M.
Hannawald, M.
Herve, S.
Juillard, A.
Kluck, H.
Lemrani, R.
Loaiza, P.
Lubashevskiy, A.
Marnieros, S.
Navick, X. -F.
Olivieri, E.
Pari, P.
Paul, B.
Rozov, S.
Sanglard, V.
Scorza, S.
Semikh, S.
Torrento-Coello, A. S.
Vagneron, L.
Verdier, M-A.
Yakushev, E.
Publication Year :: 2010
Abstract: Muon-induced neutrons constitute a prominent background component in a number of low count rate experiments, namely direct searches for Dark Matter. In this work we describe a neutron detector to measure this background in an underground laboratory, the Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane. The system is based on 1 m3 of Gd-loaded scintillator and it is linked with the muon veto of the EDELWEISS-II experiment for coincident muon detection. The system was installed in autumn 2008 and passed since then a number of commissioning tests proving its full functionality. The data-taking is continuously ongoing and a count rate of the order of 1 muon-induced neutron per day has been achieved.<br />Comment: Accepted for publication in Astroparticle Physics; 14 pages, 10 figures

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