Dark Matter Detector Radioimpurities $^{129}$I and $^{210}$Pb Measured with Accelerator Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Sodium iodide crystals doped with thallium NaI(Tl) can be used as detector material for direct dark matter detection by taking advantage of their particle detection properties of scintillation. In order to achieve this, it is crucial that these crystals are of ultra-high purity. Radioimpurities within the crystals may potentially mimic dark matter signals and thus must be quantified, minimised where possible and distinguished from real events. Abundances of radionuclides $^{129}$I and $^{210}$Pb, which are dominant sources of radioimpurities in NaI(Tl) crystals, were measured using accelerator mass spectrometry at the Australian National University (ANU) and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). NaI powder chemically processed to AgI, and, for the first time, unprocessed NaI powder, were shown to be suitable as AMS targets. A consistent $^{129}$I/$^{127}$I ratio of (2.0 $\pm$ 0.3) x 10$^{-13}$ was measured in three different commercially available NaI powders. Therefore, it was concluded that the choice of NaI powder has a negligible influence on the $^{129}$I contribution to low-background dark matter experiments. For $^{210}$Pb, different Pb molecular ion species were assessed with PbO$_2^-$ being the preferred species and applied to investigate different lead oxide compounds for their suitability as Pb carriers. A $^{210}$Pb/Pb isotopic ratio of (3.6 $\pm$ $^{1.7}_{1.4}$) x 10$^{-15}$ was measured in Pb$_3$O$_4$ powder. This met the required lower activity limit of $^{210}$Pb when adding 1 mg of stable lead into 1 kg of NaI(Tl) powder with a desired maximum $^{210}$Pb/Pb isotopic ratio of 1 x 10$^{-14}$. These results indicate the suitability of the investigated Pb$_3$O$_4$ as a potential carrier for incorporation with Pb extracted from NaI used for dark matter experiments.