HyeoungWoo Park | Searcharxiv

arXiv2026

Optimization and Underground Implementation of the KAPAE Phase II Detector for an Invisible New Particle Search in Positronium Decay

The KAPAE Phase II detector was developed to search for invisible decays of positronium as a probe of physics beyond the Standard Model. The detector geometry was optimized with Geant4 simulations, and the scintillation and readout performance were evaluated experimentally. The temperature dependence of the BGO scintillator and several readout configurations were studied to find the operating condition giving the best energy resolution. The background level was then measured both at the surface and underground. At the surface, the positron-gamma coincidence background was of order 1 Hz, with occasional bursts up to about 65 Hz. Underground, it decreased to below about 3 \times 10^{-4} Hz, more than three orders of magnitude lower.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2026

Neutron spectrum measurement in the Yemi underground laboratory

We report on the measurement of neutron energy spectra at the newly established Yemi Underground Laboratory (Yemilab) in the Republic of Korea, designed to host dark matter and rare-event search experiments. A high-sensitivity neutron spectrometer was employed, consisting of ten cylindrical {}^{3}He proportional counters, eight of which were embedded in cylindrical high-density polyethylene moderators of various sizes. To quantify and mitigate contributions from internal α-backgrounds, each detector underwent a dedicated background measurement using a cadmium-shielded box. These backgrounds, primarily originating from trace amounts of U and Th in the stainless-steel housings, were characterized and subtracted during data analysis. Neutron measurements were carried out at three locations within the Yemilab between March to October 2023. After waveform-based event selection and correction for \alphasym-backgrounds, neutron count rates were estimated and corresponding energy spectra were reconstructed using the unfolding method. The total neutron fluence rates were measured ranged from (3.24 $\pm$ 0.11) to (4.01 $\pm$ 0.10) $\times~10^{-5}~ {cm}^{-2}~{s}^{-1}$, with thermal and fast neutron components (1 - 10 MeV) ranging from (1.32 $\pm$ 0.05) to (1.51 $\pm$ 0.05) $\times 10^{-5}~{cm}^{-2}~{s}^{-1}$ and (0.27 $\pm$ 0.03) to (0.34 $\pm$ 0.10) $\times~10^{-5}~{cm}^{-2}~{s}^{-1}$, respectively.

physics.ins-det↗