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1. Enhancing Material Screening at Boulby Underground Laboratory with XIA UltraLo-1800 Alpha Particle Detectors

Author

Maouloud, Sid El Moctar Ahmed, Dobson, James Edward Young, Ghag, Chamkaur, Floch, Léna Le, Liu, XinRan, Meehan, Emma, Murphy, Alexander St. John, Nguyen, Anh, Paling, Sean, Saakyan, Ruben, Scovell, Paul Robert, and Toth, Christopher

Subjects
Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors
Abstract

The Boulby UnderGround Screening (BUGS) facility, located at the Boulby Underground Laboratory, has significantly advanced its material screening capabilities by installing two XIA UltraLo-1800 alpha particle detectors. This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of one of these detectors, operated 1,100 meters underground at the Boulby Underground Laboratory, which provides significant shielding from cosmic radiation and maintains a low ambient radon activity of 2.30 $\pm$ 0.03 Bq/m$^3$. Our evaluation focuses on energy reconstruction accuracy, background radiation rates, and operational stability. The XIA UltraLo-1800 detector demonstrates remarkable stability in energy reconstruction, with less than 0.1 MeV variation over four years. Moreover, the implementation of a graphite-filled PTFE liner in the sample tray resulted in a significant reduction in background radiation levels compared to measurements with the original stainless steel tray, achieving an average activity of 0.15 $\pm$ 0.01 $\alpha$/cm$^2$/khr. Copper sample assays, performed before and after radon exposure, demonstrated the detector's ability to accurately identify and quantify $^{210}$Po contamination. By implementing the robust cleanliness procedures and protocols described in this article, we observed a reduction in $^{210}$Po activity from 0.504 $\pm$ 0.022 mBq to 0.336 $\pm$ 0.013 mBq, highlighting the crucial role of refined cleaning methods in minimizing background for sensitive experiments. Additionally, observations of elevated background activity levels post-high-activity sample measurements illustrate the need for careful management of assay conditions and environment to maintain low background levels. These results highlight the potential of the XIA UltraLo-1800 in enhancing the precision of material assays essential for reducing background interference in rare event experiments.

Published
2024

2. Terrestrial Very-Long-Baseline Atom Interferometry: Workshop Summary

Author

Abend, Sven, Allard, Baptiste, Alonso, Iván, Antoniadis, John, Araujo, Henrique, Arduini, Gianluigi, Arnold, Aidan, Aßmann, Tobias, Augst, Nadja, Badurina, Leonardo, Balaz, Antun, Banks, Hannah, Barone, Michele, Barsanti, Michele, Bassi, Angelo, Battelier, Baptiste, Baynham, Charles, Quentin, Beaufils, Belic, Aleksandar, Beniwal, Ankit, Bernabeu, Jose, Bertinelli, Francesco, Bertoldi, Andrea, Biswas, Ikbal Ahamed, Blas, Diego, Boegel, Patrick, Bogojevic, Aleksandar, Böhm, Jonas, Böhringer, Samuel, Bongs, Kai, Bouyer, Philippe, Brand, Christian, Brimis, Apostolos, Buchmueller, Oliver, Cacciapuoti, Luigi, Calatroni, Sergio, Canuel, Benjamin, Caprini, Chiara, Caramete, Ana, Caramete, Laurentiu, Carlesso, Matteo, Carlton, John, Casariego, Mateo, Charmandaris, Vassilis, Chen, Yu-Ao, Chiofalo, Maria Luisa, Cimbri, Alessia, Coleman, Jonathon, Constantin, Florin Lucian, Contaldi, Carlo, Cui, Yanou, Da Ros, Elisa, Davies, Gavin, Rosendo, Esther del Pino, Deppner, Christian, Derevianko, Andrei, de Rham, Claudia, De Roeck, Albert, Derr, Daniel, Di Pumpo, Fabio, Djordjevic, Goran, Dobrich, Babette, Domokos, Peter, Dornan, Peter, Doser, Michael, Drougakis, Giannis, Dunningham, Jacob, Duspayev, Alisher, Easo, Sajan, Eby, Joshua, Efremov, Maxim, Ekelof, Tord, Elertas, Gedminas, Ellis, John, Evans, David, Fadeev, Pavel, Fanì, Mattia, Fassi, Farida, Fattori, Marco, Fayet, Pierre, Felea, Daniel, Feng, Jie, Friedrich, Alexander, Fuchs, Elina, Gaaloul, Naceur, Gao, Dongfeng, Gardner, Susan, Garraway, Barry, Gauguet, Alexandre, Gerlach, Sandra, Gersemann, Matthias, Gibson, Valerie, Giese, Enno, Giudice, Gian Francesco, Glasbrenner, Eric, Gündogan, Mustafa, Haehnelt, Martin G., Hakulinen, Timo, Hammerer, Klemens, Hanımeli, Ekim Taylan, Harte, Tiffany, Hawkins, Leonie, Hees, Aurelien, Heise, Jaret, Henderson, Victoria, Herrmann, Sven, Hird, Thomas, Hogan, Jason, Holst, Bodil, Holynski, Michael, Hussain, Kamran, Janson, Gregor, Jeglič, Peter, Jelezko, Fedor, Kagan, Michael, Kalliokoski, Matti, Kasevich, Mark, Kehagias, Alex, Kilian, Eva, Koley, Soumen, Konrad, Bernd, Kopp, Joachim, Kornakov, Georgy, Kovachy, Tim, Krutzik, Markus, Kumar, Mukesh, Kumar, Pradeep, Laemmerzahl, Claus, Landsberg, Greg, Langlois, Mehdi, Lanigan, Bryony, Lellouch, Samuel, Leone, Bruno, Lafitte, Christophe Le Poncin, Lewicki, Marek, Leykauf, Bastian, Lezeik, Ali, Lombriser, Lucas, López, Luis, Asamar, Elias López, Monjaraz, Cristian López, Luciano, Gaetano, Mohammed, Mohammed Mahmoud, Maleknejad, Azadeh, Markus, Krutzik, Marteau, Jacques, Massonnet, Didier, Mazumdar, Anupam, McCabe, Christopher, Meister, Matthias, Menu, Jonathan, Messineo, Giuseppe, Micalizio, Salvatore, Millington, Peter, Milosevic, Milan, Mitchell, Jeremiah, Montero, Mario, Morley, Gavin, Müller, Jürgen, Müstecaplıoğlu, Özgür, Ni, Wei-Tou, Noller, Johannes, Odžak, Senad, Oi, Daniel, Omar, Yasser, Pahl, Julia, Paling, Sean, Pandey, Saurabh, Pappas, George, Pareek, Vinay, Pasatembou, Elizabeth, Pelucchi, Emanuele, Santos, Franck Pereira dos, Piest, Baptist, Pikovski, Igor, Pilaftsis, Apostolos, Plunkett, Robert, Poggiani, Rosa, Prevedelli, Marco, Puputti, Julia, Veettil, Vishnupriya Puthiya, Quenby, John, Rafelski, Johann, Rajendran, Surjeet, Rasel, Ernst Maria, Sfar, Haifa Rejeb, Reynaud, Serge, Richaud, Andrea, Rodzinka, Tangui, Roura, Albert, Rudolph, Jan, Sabulsky, Dylan, Safronova, Marianna, Santamaria, Luigi, Schilling, Manuel, Schkolnik, Vladimir, Schleich, Wolfgang, Schlippert, Dennis, Schneider, Ulrich, Schreck, Florian, Schubert, Christian, Schwersenz, Nico, Semakin, Aleksei, Sergijenko, Olga, Shao, Lijing, Shipsey, Ian, Singh, Rajeev, Smerzi, Augusto, Sopuerta, Carlos F., Spallicci, Alessandro, Stefanescu, Petruta, Stergioulas, Nikolaos, Ströhle, Jannik, Struckmann, Christian, Tentindo, Silvia, Throssell, Henry, Tino, Guglielmo M., Tinsley, Jonathan, Mircea, Ovidiu Tintareanu, Tkalčec, Kimberly, Tolley, Andrew, Tornatore, Vincenza, Torres-Orjuela, Alejandro, Treutlein, Philipp, Trombettoni, Andrea, Tsai, Yu-Dai, Ufrecht, Christian, Ulmer, Stefan, Valuch, Daniel, Vaskonen, Ville, Aceves, Veronica Vazquez, Vitanov, Nikolay, Vogt, Christian, von Klitzing, Wolf, Vukics, András, Walser, Reinhold, Wang, Jin, Warburton, Niels, Webber-Date, Alexander, Wenzlawski, André, Werner, Michael, Williams, Jason, Windapssinger, Patrcik, Wolf, Peter, Wörner, Lisa, Xuereb, André, Yahia, Mohamed, Cruzeiro, Emmanuel Zambrini, Zarei, Moslem, Zhan, Mingsheng, Zhou, Lin, Zupan, Jure, and Zupanič, Erik

Subjects
High Energy Physics - Experiment, Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics, General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology, High Energy Physics - Phenomenology, Physics - Atomic Physics
Abstract

This document presents a summary of the 2023 Terrestrial Very-Long-Baseline Atom Interferometry Workshop hosted by CERN. The workshop brought together experts from around the world to discuss the exciting developments in large-scale atom interferometer (AI) prototypes and their potential for detecting ultralight dark matter and gravitational waves. The primary objective of the workshop was to lay the groundwork for an international TVLBAI proto-collaboration. This collaboration aims to unite researchers from different institutions to strategize and secure funding for terrestrial large-scale AI projects. The ultimate goal is to create a roadmap detailing the design and technology choices for one or more km-scale detectors, which will be operational in the mid-2030s. The key sections of this report present the physics case and technical challenges, together with a comprehensive overview of the discussions at the workshop together with the main conclusions., Comment: Summary of the Terrestrial Very-Long-Baseline Atom Interferometry Workshop held at CERN: https://indico.cern.ch/event/1208783/

Published
2023

3. Contextual Isotope Ranking Criteria for Peak Identification in Gamma Spectroscopy Using a Large Database

Author

Aguilar-Arevalo, Alexis, Bertou, Xavier, Canet, Carles, Cruz-Pérez, Miguel A., Deisting, Alexander, Dias, Adriana, D'Olivo, Juan Carlos, Favela-Pérez, J. Francisco, Garcés, Estela A., Muñoz, Adiv González, Guerra-Pulido, Jaime Octavio, Mancera-Alejandrez, Javier, Marín-Lámbarri, Daniel José, Martínez-Montero, Mauricio, Monroe, Jocelyn, Paling, Sean, Peeters, Simon, Scovell, Paul R., Türkoglu, Cenk, Vázquez-Jáuregui, Eric, and Walding, Joseph

Subjects
Physics - Computational Physics, Nuclear Experiment, Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors
Abstract

Isotope identification is a recurrent problem in gamma spectroscopy with high purity germanium detectors. In this work, new strategies are introduced to facilitate this type of analysis. Five criteria are used to identify the parent isotopes making a query on a large database of gamma-lines from a multitude of isotopes producing an output list whose entries are sorted so that the gamma-lines with the highest chance of being present in a sample are placed at the top. A metric to evaluate the performance of the different criteria is introduced and used to compare them. Two of the criteria are found to be superior than the others: one based on fuzzy logic, and another that makes use of the gamma relative emission probabilities. A program called histoGe implements these criteria using a SQLite database containing the gamma-lines of isotopes which was parsed from WWW Table of Radioactive Isotopes. histoGe is Free Software and is provided along with the database so they can be used to analyze spectra obtained with generic gamma-ray detectors., Comment: 12 pages, 7 tables, 7 figures

Published
2022
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4. Dosimetry and calorimetry performance of a scientific CMOS camera for environmental monitoring

Author

Aguilar-Arevalo, Alexis, Bertou, Xavier, Canet, Carles, Cruz-Perez, Miguel Angel, Deisting, Alexander, Dias, Adriana, D'Olivo, Juan Carlos, Favela-Perez, Francisco, Garces, Estela A., Munoz, Adiv Gonzalez, Guerra-Pulido, Jaime Octavio, Mancera-Alejandrez, Javier, Marin-Lambarri, Daniel Jose, Montero, Mauricio Martinez, Monroe, Jocelyn, Paling, Sean, Peeters, Simon J. M., Scovell, Paul, Turkoglu, Cenk, Vazquez-Jauregui, Eric, and Walding, Joseph

Subjects
Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors, Physics - Applied Physics
Abstract

This paper explores the prospect of CMOS devices to assay lead in drinking water, using calorimetry. Lead occurs together with traces of radioisotopes, e.g. Lead-210, producing $\gamma$-emissions with energies ranging from 10 keV to several 100 keV when they decay; this range is detectable in silicon sensors. In this paper we test a CMOS camera (Oxford Instruments Neo 5.5) for its general performance as a detector of x-rays and low energy $\gamma$-rays and assess its sensitivity relative to the World Health Organization upper limit on lead in drinking water. Energies from 6 keV to 60 keV are examined. The CMOS camera has a linear energy response over this range and its energy resolution is for the most part slightly better than 2 %. The Neo sCMOS is not sensitive to x-rays with energies below $\sim\!\!10 keV$. The smallest detectable rate is 40$\pm$3 mHz, corresponding to an incident activity on the chip of 7$\pm$4 Bq. The estimation of the incident activity sensitivity from the detected activity relies on geometric acceptance and the measured efficiency vs. energy. We report the efficiency measurement, which is 0.08$\pm$0.02 % (0.0011$\pm$0.0002 %) at 26.3 keV (59.5 keV). Taking calorimetric information into account we measure a minimal detectable rate of 4$\pm$1 mHz (1.5$\pm$0.1 mHz) for 26.3 keV (59.5 keV) $\gamma$-rays, which corresponds to an incident activity of 1.0$\pm$0.6 Bq (57$\pm$33 Bq). Toy Monte Carlo and Geant4 simulations agree with these results. These results show this CMOS sensor is well-suited as a $\gamma$- and x-ray detector with sensitivity at the few to 100 ppb level for Lead-210 in a sample.

Published
2020

5. Terrestrial very-long-baseline atom interferometry: Workshop summary

Author

Abend, Sven, primary, Allard, Baptiste, additional, Alonso, Iván, additional, Antoniadis, John, additional, Araújo, Henrique, additional, Arduini, Gianluigi, additional, Arnold, Aidan S., additional, Asano, Tobias, additional, Augst, Nadja, additional, Badurina, Leonardo, additional, Balaž, Antun, additional, Banks, Hannah, additional, Barone, Michele, additional, Barsanti, Michele, additional, Bassi, Angelo, additional, Battelier, Baptiste, additional, Baynham, Charles F. A., additional, Beaufils, Quentin, additional, Belić, Aleksandar, additional, Beniwal, Ankit, additional, Bernabeu, Jose, additional, Bertinelli, Francesco, additional, Bertoldi, Andrea, additional, Biswas, Ikbal Ahamed, additional, Blas, Diego, additional, Boegel, Patrick, additional, Bogojević, Aleksandar, additional, Böhm, Jonas, additional, Böhringer, Samuel, additional, Bongs, Kai, additional, Bouyer, Philippe, additional, Brand, Christian, additional, Brimis, Apostolos, additional, Buchmueller, Oliver, additional, Cacciapuoti, Luigi, additional, Calatroni, Sergio, additional, Canuel, Benjamin, additional, Caprini, Chiara, additional, Caramete, Ana, additional, Caramete, Laurentiu, additional, Carlesso, Matteo, additional, Carlton, John, additional, Casariego, Mateo, additional, Charmandaris, Vassilis, additional, Chen, Yu-Ao, additional, Chiofalo, Maria Luisa, additional, Cimbri, Alessia, additional, Coleman, Jonathon, additional, Constantin, Florin Lucian, additional, Contaldi, Carlo R., additional, Cui, Yanou, additional, Ros, Elisa Da, additional, Davies, Gavin, additional, Rosendo, Esther del Pino, additional, Deppner, Christian, additional, Derevianko, Andrei, additional, Rham, Claudia de, additional, Roeck, Albert De, additional, Derr, Daniel, additional, Di Pumpo, Fabio, additional, Djordjevic, Goran S., additional, Döbrich, Babette, additional, Domokos, Peter, additional, Dornan, Peter, additional, Doser, Michael, additional, Drougakis, Giannis, additional, Dunningham, Jacob, additional, Duspayev, Alisher, additional, Easo, Sajan, additional, Eby, Joshua, additional, Efremov, Maxim, additional, Ekelof, Tord, additional, Elertas, Gedminas, additional, Ellis, John, additional, Evans, David, additional, Fadeev, Pavel, additional, Fanì, Mattia, additional, Fassi, Farida, additional, Fattori, Marco, additional, Fayet, Pierre, additional, Felea, Daniel, additional, Feng, Jie, additional, Friedrich, Alexander, additional, Fuchs, Elina, additional, Gaaloul, Naceur, additional, Gao, Dongfeng, additional, Gardner, Susan, additional, Garraway, Barry, additional, Gauguet, Alexandre, additional, Gerlach, Sandra, additional, Gersemann, Matthias, additional, Gibson, Valerie, additional, Giese, Enno, additional, Giudice, Gian F., additional, Glasbrenner, Eric P., additional, Gündoğan, Mustafa, additional, Haehnelt, Martin, additional, Hakulinen, Timo, additional, Hammerer, Klemens, additional, Hanımeli, Ekim T., additional, Harte, Tiffany, additional, Hawkins, Leonie, additional, Hees, Aurelien, additional, Heise, Jaret, additional, Henderson, Victoria A., additional, Herrmann, Sven, additional, Hird, Thomas M., additional, Hogan, Jason M., additional, Holst, Bodil, additional, Holynski, Michael, additional, Hussain, Kamran, additional, Janson, Gregor, additional, Jeglič, Peter, additional, Jelezko, Fedor, additional, Kagan, Michael, additional, Kalliokoski, Matti, additional, Kasevich, Mark, additional, Kehagias, Alex, additional, Kilian, Eva, additional, Koley, Soumen, additional, Konrad, Bernd, additional, Kopp, Joachim, additional, Kornakov, Georgy, additional, Kovachy, Tim, additional, Krutzik, Markus, additional, Kumar, Mukesh, additional, Kumar, Pradeep, additional, Lämmerzahl, Claus, additional, Landsberg, Greg, additional, Langlois, Mehdi, additional, Lanigan, Bryony, additional, Lellouch, Samuel, additional, Leone, Bruno, additional, Poncin-Lafitte, Christophe Le, additional, Lewicki, Marek, additional, Leykauf, Bastian, additional, Lezeik, Ali, additional, Lombriser, Lucas, additional, Luis Lopez-Gonzalez, J., additional, Lopez Asamar, Elias, additional, Monjaraz, Cristian López, additional, Luciano, Giuseppe Gaetano, additional, Mahmoud, M. A., additional, Maleknejad, Azadeh, additional, Marteau, Jacques, additional, Massonnet, Didier, additional, Mazumdar, Anupam, additional, McCabe, Christopher, additional, Meister, Matthias, additional, Menu, Jonathan, additional, Messineo, Giuseppe, additional, Micalizio, Salvatore, additional, Millington, Peter, additional, Milosevic, Milan, additional, Mitchell, Jeremiah, additional, Montero, Mario, additional, Morley, Gavin W., additional, Müller, Jürgen, additional, ioğlu, Özgür E. Müstecapl, additional, Ni, Wei-Tou, additional, Noller, Johannes, additional, Odžak, Senad, additional, Oi, Daniel K. L., additional, Omar, Yasser, additional, Pahl, Julia, additional, Paling, Sean, additional, Pandey, Saurabh, additional, Pappas, George, additional, Pareek, Vinay, additional, Pasatembou, Elizabeth, additional, Pelucchi, Emanuele, additional, Pereira dos Santos, Franck, additional, Piest, Baptist, additional, Pikovski, Igor, additional, Pilaftsis, Apostolos, additional, Plunkett, Robert, additional, Poggiani, Rosa, additional, Prevedelli, Marco, additional, Puputti, Julia, additional, Veettil, Vishnupriya Puthiya, additional, Quenby, John, additional, Rafelski, Johann, additional, Rajendran, Surjeet, additional, Rasel, Ernst M., additional, Sfar, Haifa Rejeb, additional, Reynaud, Serge, additional, Richaud, Andrea, additional, Rodzinka, Tangui, additional, Roura, Albert, additional, Rudolph, Jan, additional, Sabulsky, Dylan O., additional, Safronova, Marianna S., additional, Santamaria, Luigi, additional, Schilling, Manuel, additional, Schkolnik, Vladimir, additional, Schleich, Wolfgang P., additional, Schlippert, Dennis, additional, Schneider, Ulrich, additional, Schreck, Florian, additional, Schubert, Christian, additional, Schwersenz, Nico, additional, Semakin, Aleksei, additional, Sergijenko, Olga, additional, Shao, Lijing, additional, Shipsey, Ian, additional, Singh, Rajeev, additional, Smerzi, Augusto, additional, Sopuerta, Carlos F., additional, Spallicci, Alessandro D. A. M., additional, Stefanescu, Petruta, additional, Stergioulas, Nikolaos, additional, Ströhle, Jannik, additional, Struckmann, Christian, additional, Tentindo, Silvia, additional, Throssell, Henry, additional, Tino, Guglielmo M., additional, Tinsley, Jonathan N., additional, Tintareanu Mircea, Ovidiu, additional, Tkalčec, Kimberly, additional, Tolley, Andrew. J., additional, Tornatore, Vincenza, additional, Torres-Orjuela, Alejandro, additional, Treutlein, Philipp, additional, Trombettoni, Andrea, additional, Tsai, Yu-Dai, additional, Ufrecht, Christian, additional, Ulmer, Stefan, additional, Valuch, Daniel, additional, Vaskonen, Ville, additional, Vázquez-Aceves, Verónica, additional, Vitanov, Nikolay V., additional, Vogt, Christian, additional, Klitzing, Wolf von, additional, Vukics, András, additional, Walser, Reinhold, additional, Wang, Jin, additional, Warburton, Niels, additional, Webber-Date, Alexander, additional, Wenzlawski, André, additional, Werner, Michael, additional, Williams, Jason, additional, Windpassinger, Patrick, additional, Wolf, Peter, additional, Woerner, Lisa, additional, Xuereb, André, additional, Yahia, Mohamed E., additional, Cruzeiro, Emmanuel Zambrini, additional, Zarei, Moslem, additional, Zhan, Mingsheng, additional, Zhou, Lin, additional, Zupan, Jure, additional, and Zupanič, Erik, additional

Published
2024
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6. Periodic sea-level oscillation in Tokyo Bay detected with the Tokyo-Bay seafloor hyper-kilometric submarine deep detector (TS-HKMSDD)

Author

Tanaka, Hiroyuki K. M., Aichi, Masaatsu, Balogh, Szabolcs József, Bozza, Cristiano, Coniglione, Rosa, Gluyas, Jon, Hayashi, Naoto, Holma, Marko, Joutsenvaara, Jari, Kamoshida, Osamu, Kato, Yasuhiro, Kin, Tadahiro, Kuusiniemi, Pasi, Leone, Giovanni, Lo Presti, Domenico, Matsushima, Jun, Miyamoto, Hideaki, Mori, Hirohisa, Nomura, Yukihiro, Okamoto, Naoya, Oláh, László, Steigerwald, Sara, Shimazoe, Kenji, Sumiya, Kenji, Takahashi, Hiroyuki, Thompson, Lee F., Tokunaga, Tomochika, Yokota, Yusuke, Paling, Sean, and Varga, Dezső

Published
2022
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8. Background Assay and Rejection in DRIFT

Author

Brack, Jeff, Daw, Ed, Dorofeev, Alexei, Ezeribe, Anthony, Gauvreau, Jean-Luc, Gold, Michael, Harton, John, Lafler, Randy, Lauer, Robert, Lee, Eric R., Loomba, Dinesh, Matthews, John, Miller, Eric H., Monte, Alissa, Murphy, Alex, Paling, Sean, Phan, Nguyen, Sadler, Steve, Scarff, Andrew, Snowden-Ifft, Daniel, Spooner, Neil, Telfer, Sam, Walker, Daniel, Williams, Matt, and Yuriev, Leonid

Subjects
Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors, Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics, High Energy Physics - Experiment
Abstract

The DRIFT-IId dark matter detector is a m$^3$-scale low-pressure TPC with directional sensitivity to WIMP-induced nuclear recoils. Its primary backgrounds were due to alpha decays from contamination on the central cathode. Efforts to reduce these backgrounds led to replacing the 20 \mu m wire central cathode with one constructed from 0.9 \mu m aluminized mylar, which is almost totally transparent to alpha particles. Detailed modeling of the nature and origin of the remaining backgrounds led to an in-situ, ppt-sensitive assay of alpha decay backgrounds from the central cathode. This led to further improvements in the thin-film cathode resulting in over 2 orders of magnitude reduction in backgrounds compared to the wire cathode. Finally, the addition of O$_2$ to CS$_2$ gas was found to produce multiple species of electronegative charge carriers, providing a method to determine the absolute position of nuclear recoils and reject all known remaining backgrounds while retaining a high efficiency for nuclear recoil detection., Comment: 7 pages, 14 figures. To appear in the Proceedings of the TAUP 2013 Conference (F. Avignone & W. Haxton, editors, Physics Procedia, Elsevier)

Published
2014
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10. Author Correction: First results of undersea muography with the Tokyo-Bay Seafloor Hyper-Kilometric Submarine Deep Detector

Author

Tanaka, Hiroyuki K. M., Aichi, Masaatsu, Bozza, Cristiano, Coniglione, Rosa, Gluyas, Jon, Hayashi, Naoto, Holma, Marko, Kamoshida, Osamu, Kato, Yasuhiro, Kin, Tadahiro, Kuusiniemi, Pasi, Leone, Giovanni, Presti, Domenico Lo, Matsushima, Jun, Miyamoto, Hideaki, Mori, Hirohisa, Nomura, Yukihiro, Oláh, László, Steigerwald, Sara, Shimazoe, Kenji, Sumiya, Kenji, Takahashi, Hiroyuki, Thompson, Lee F., Yokota, Yusuke, Paling, Sean, and Varga, Dezső

Published
2021
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11. First results of undersea muography with the Tokyo-Bay Seafloor Hyper-Kilometric Submarine Deep Detector

Author

Tanaka, Hiroyuki K. M., Aichi, Masaatsu, Bozza, Cristiano, Coniglione, Rosa, Gluyas, Jon, Hayashi, Naoto, Holma, Marko, Kamoshida, Osamu, Kato, Yasuhiro, Kin, Tadahiro, Kuusiniemi, Pasi, Leone, Giovanni, Presti, Domenico Lo, Matsushima, Jun, Miyamoto, Hideaki, Mori, Hirohisa, Nomura, Yukihiro, Oláh, László, Steigerwald, Sara, Shimazoe, Kenji, Sumiya, Kenji, Takahashi, Hiroyuki, Thompson, Lee F., Yokota, Yusuke, Paling, Sean, and Varga, Dezső

Published
2021
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12. Battery Earth: using the subsurface at Boulby underground laboratory to investigate energy storage technologies

Author

Daniels, Katherine A., Harrington, Jon F., Wiseall, Andrew C., Shoemark-Banks, Edward, Hough, Edward, Wallis, Humphrey C., Paling, Sean M., Daniels, Katherine A., Harrington, Jon F., Wiseall, Andrew C., Shoemark-Banks, Edward, Hough, Edward, Wallis, Humphrey C., and Paling, Sean M.

Abstract

Renewable energy provides a low-carbon alternative to power generation in the UK. However, the resultant supply varies on daily, weekly and seasonal cycles, such that for green energies to be fully exploited new grid-scale energy storage systems must be implemented. Two pilot facilities in Germany and the United States have demonstrated the potential of the Earth as a battery to store compressed air, using off-peak surplus energy. Natural accumulations of salt (halite deposits) in the UK represent a large and untapped natural storage reservoir for compressed air with the ability to provide instantaneous green energy to meet peak demand. To realise the potential of this emerging technology, a detailed knowledge of the relationship between mechanics, chemistry and geological properties is required to optimise cavern design, storage potential and economic feasibility. The variable stresses imposed on the rock matrix by gas storage, combined with the cyclic nature of cavern pressurisation are barriers to deployment that need to be addressed to enable large-scale adoption of schemes. Well-designed field experiments are a lynchpin for advancing research in this area, especially when supported by state-of-the-art characterisation and modelling techniques. The research facility at STFC’s Boulby Underground Laboratory presents the ideal location to tackle these fundamental issues to optimise “Battery Earth”.

Published
2023

15. Muographic Detection of Seasonal Variations in Astronomical Tides With Hyper Kilometric Submarine Deep Detector (HKMSDD)

Author

Tanaka, Hiroyuki, primary, Aichi, Masaatsu, additional, Balog, Szabolcs József, additional, Bozza, Cristiano, additional, Coniglione, Rosa, additional, Gluyas, Jon, additional, Hayashi, Naoto, additional, Holma, Marko, additional, Joutsenvaara, Jari, additional, Kamoshida, Osamu, additional, Kato, Yasuhiro, additional, Kin, Tadahiro, additional, Kuusiniemi, Pasi, additional, Roche, Ignacio Lázaro, additional, Leone, Giovanni, additional, Lo Presti, Domenico, additional, Matsushim, Jun, additional, Miyamoto, Hideaki, additional, Mori, Hirohisa, additional, Nomura, Yukihiro, additional, Okamoto, Naoya, additional, Oláh, László, additional, Paling, Sean, additional, Poluianov, Stepan, additional, Steigerwald, Sara, additional, Shimazoe, Kenji, additional, Sumiya, Kenji, additional, Takahashi, Hiroyuki, additional, Tytgat, Michael, additional, Thompson, Lee F.`, additional, Tokunaga, Tomochika, additional, Usoskin, Ilya, additional, Yokota, Yusuke, additional, and Varga, Dezső, additional

Published
2022
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16. Contextual Isotope Ranking Criteria for Peak Identification in Gamma Spectroscopy Using a Large Database

Author

Aguilar-Arevalo, Alexis, primary, Bertou, Xavier, additional, Canet, Carles, additional, Cruz-Perez, Miguel A., additional, Deisting, Alexander, additional, Dias, Adriana, additional, D'Olivo, Juan Carlos, additional, Francisco Favela-Perez, J., additional, Garces, Estela A., additional, Munoz, Adiv Gonzalez, additional, Guerra-Pulido, Jaime Octavio, additional, Mancera-Alejandrez, Javier, additional, Marin-Lambarri, Daniel Jose, additional, Martinez-Montero, Mauricio, additional, Monroe, Jocelyn, additional, Paling, Sean, additional, Peeters, Simon, additional, Scovell, Paul R., additional, Turkoglu, Cenk, additional, Vazquez-Jauregui, Eric, additional, and Walding, Joseph, additional

Published
2022
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17. Periodic Sea-Level Oscillation in Tokyo Bay Detected with the Tokyo-Bay Seafloor Hyper-Kilometric Submarine Deep Detector (TS-HKMSDD)

Author

Tanaka, Hiroyuki K. M., primary, Aichi, Masaatsu, additional, Balogh, Szabolcs József, additional, Bozza, Cristiano, additional, Coniglione, Rosa, additional, Gluyas, Jon, additional, Hayashi, Naoto, additional, Holma, Marko, additional, Joutsenvaara, Jari, additional, Kamoshida, Osamu, additional, Kato, Yasuhiro, additional, Kin, Tadahiro, additional, Kuusiniemi, Pasi, additional, Leone, Giovanni, additional, Presti, Domenico Lo, additional, Matsushima, Jun, additional, Miyamoto, Hideaki, additional, Mori, Hirohisa, additional, Nomura, Yukihiro, additional, Okamoto, Naoya, additional, Oláh, László, additional, Steigerwald, Sara, additional, Shimazoe, Kenji, additional, Sumiya, Kenji, additional, Takahashi, Hiroyuki, additional, Thompson, Lee F., additional, Tokunaga, Tomochika, additional, Yokota, Yusuke, additional, Paling, Sean, additional, and Varga, Dezső, additional

Published
2021
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18. First Results of Undersea Muography with the Tokyo-Bay Seafloor Hyper-Kilometric Submarine Deep Detector MAGMA-HKMSDD Collaboration

Author

Tanaka, Hiroyuki K.M., primary, Bozza, Cristiano, additional, Coniglione, Rosa, additional, Gluyas, Jon, additional, Steigerwald, Sara, additional, Holma, Marko, additional, Kuusiniemi, Pasi, additional, Leone, Giovanni, additional, Mori, Hirohisa, additional, Matsushima, Jun, additional, Paling, Sean, additional, Presti, Domenico Lo, additional, Kin, Tadahiro, additional, Kamoshida, Osamu, additional, Aichi, Masaatsu, additional, Oláh, László, additional, Sumiya, Kenji, additional, Thompson, Lee F., additional, Yokota, Yusuke, additional, Varga, Dezső, additional, Hayashi, Naoto, additional, Nomura, Yukihiro, additional, Kato, Yasuhiro, additional, Miyamoto, Hideaki, additional, Shimazoe, Kenji, additional, Takahashi, Hiroyuki, additional, and Satoh, Masaki, additional

Published
2021
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19. Dosimetry and Calorimetry Performance of a Scientific CMOS Camera for Environmental Monitoring

Author

Aguilar-Arevalo, Alexis, primary, Bertou, Xavier, additional, Canet, Carles, additional, Cruz-Pérez, Miguel Angel, additional, Deisting, Alexander, additional, Dias, Adriana, additional, D’Olivo, Juan Carlos, additional, Favela-Pérez, Francisco, additional, Garcés, Estela A., additional, González Muñoz, Adiv, additional, Guerra-Pulido, Jaime Octavio, additional, Mancera-Alejandrez, Javier, additional, Marín-Lámbarri, Daniel José, additional, Martinez Montero, Mauricio, additional, Monroe, Jocelyn, additional, Paling, Sean, additional, Peeters, Simon J. M., additional, Scovell, Paul, additional, Türkoğlu, Cenk, additional, Vázquez-Jáuregui, Eric, additional, and Walding, Joseph, additional

Published
2020
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24. An Ionic Limit to Life in the Deep Subsurface

Author

Payler, Samuel J., Biddle, Jennifer F., Sherwood Lollar, Barbara, Fox-Powell, Mark G., Edwards, Thomas, Ngwenya, Bryne T., Paling, Sean M., Cockell, Charles S., University of St Andrews. School of Earth & Environmental Sciences, and University of St Andrews. St Andrews Centre for Exoplanet Science

Subjects
Microbiology (medical), GE, evaporite, Salt, Habitability, astrobiology, lcsh:QR1-502, DAS, subsurface, Astrobiology, Microbiology, lcsh:Microbiology, habitability, Evaporite, salt, Subsurface, GE Environmental Sciences
Abstract

SP was supported by EPSRC. We would also like to acknowledge the Deep Carbon Observatory for partly funding the metagenome sequencing and Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada (NSERC) funding to BS Lollar for funding the fluid isotope work (Discovery Grant No. 453949). The physical and chemical factors that can limit or prevent microbial growth in the deep subsurface are not well defined. Brines from an evaporite sequence were sampled in the Boulby Mine, United Kingdom between 800 and 1300 m depth. Ionic, hydrogen and oxygen isotopic composition were used to identify two brine sources, an aquifer situated in strata overlying the mine, and another ambiguous source distinct from the regional groundwater. The ability of the brines to support microbial replication was tested with culturing experiments using a diversity of inocula. The examined brines were found to be permissive for growth, except one. Testing this brine’s physicochemical properties showed it to have low water activity and to be chaotropic, which we attribute to the high concentration of magnesium and chloride ions. Metagenomic sequencing of the brines that supported growth showed their microbial communities to be similar to each other and comparable to those found in other hypersaline environments. These data show that solutions high in dissolved ions can shape the microbial diversity of the continental deep subsurface biosphere. Furthermore, under certain circumstances, complex brines can establish a hard limit to microbial replication in the deep biosphere, highlighting the potential for subsurface uninhabitable aqueous environments at depths far shallower than a geothermally-defined limit to life. Publisher PDF

Published
2019
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25. Subsurface robotic exploration for geomorphology, astrobiology and mining during MINAR6 campaign, Boulby Mine, UK: part I (Rover development)

Author

Martin Torres, Javier [0000-0001-6479-2236], Zorzano, M-P. [0000-0002-4492-9650], Mathanlal, Thasshwin, Bhardwaj, Anshuman, Vakkada Ramachandran, Abhilash, Zorzano, María Paz, Martín-Torres, F. J., Cockell, Charles S., Paling, Sean, Edwards, Tom, Martin Torres, Javier [0000-0001-6479-2236], Zorzano, M-P. [0000-0002-4492-9650], Mathanlal, Thasshwin, Bhardwaj, Anshuman, Vakkada Ramachandran, Abhilash, Zorzano, María Paz, Martín-Torres, F. J., Cockell, Charles S., Paling, Sean, and Edwards, Tom

Abstract

Autonomous exploration requires the use of movable platforms that carry a payload of instruments with a certain level of autonomy and communication with the operators. This is particularly challenging in subsurface environments, which may be more dangerous for human access and where communication with the surface is limited. Subsurface robotic exploration, which has been to date very limited, is interesting not only for science but also for cost-effective industrial exploitation of resources and safety assessments in mines. Furthermore, it has a direct application to exploration of extra-terrestrial subsurface environments of astrobiological and geological significance such as caves, lava tubes, impact or volcanic craters and subglacial conduits, for deriving in-situ mineralogical resources and establishing preliminary settlements. However, the technological solutions are generally tailor-made and are therefore considered as costly, fragile and environment-specific, further hindering their extensive and effective applications. To demonstrate the advantages of rover exploration for a broad-community, we have developed KORE (KOmpact Rover for Exploration); a low-cost, re-usable, rover multi-purpose platform. The rover platform has been developed as a technological demonstration for extra-terrestrial subsurface exploration and terrestrial mining operations pertaining to geomorphological mapping, environmental monitoring, gas leak detections and search and rescue operations in case of an accident. The present paper, the first part of a series of two, focuses on describing the development of a robust rover platform to perform dedicated geomorphological, astrobiological and mining tasks. KORE was further tested in the Mine Analogue Research 6 (MINAR6) campaign during September 2018 in the Boulby mine (UK), the second deepest potash mine in Europe at a subsurface depth of 1.1 km, the results of which will be presented in the second paper of this series. KORE is a large, se

Published
2019

26. Passive, continuous monitoring of carbon dioxide geostorage using muon tomography

Author

Gluyas, Jon, primary, Thompson, Lee, additional, Allen, Dave, additional, Benton, Charlotte, additional, Chadwick, Paula, additional, Clark, Sam, additional, Klinger, Joel, additional, Kudryavtsev, Vitaly, additional, Lincoln, Darren, additional, Maunder, Ben, additional, Mitchell, Cathryn, additional, Nolan, Sam, additional, Paling, Sean, additional, Spooner, Neil, additional, Staykov, Lazar, additional, Telfer, Sam, additional, Woodward, David, additional, and Coleman, Max, additional

Published
2018
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28. Subsurface scientific exploration of extraterrestrial environments (MINAR 5): analogue science, technology and education in the Boulby Mine, UK

Author

Cockell, Charles S., primary, Holt, John, additional, Campbell, Jim, additional, Groseman, Harrison, additional, Josset, Jean-Luc, additional, Bontognali, Tomaso R. R., additional, Phelps, Audra, additional, Hakobyan, Lilit, additional, Kuretn, Libby, additional, Beattie, Annalea, additional, Blank, Jen, additional, Bonaccorsi, Rosalba, additional, McKay, Christopher, additional, Shirvastava, Anushree, additional, Stoker, Carol, additional, Willson, David, additional, McLaughlin, Scott, additional, Payler, Sam, additional, Stevens, Adam, additional, Wadsworth, Jennifer, additional, Bessone, Loredana, additional, Maurer, Matthias, additional, Sauro, Francesco, additional, Martin-Torres, Javier, additional, Zorzano, Maria-Paz, additional, Bhardwaj, Anshuman, additional, Soria-Salinas, Alvaro, additional, Mathanlal, Thasshwin, additional, Nazarious, Miracle Israel, additional, Ramachandran, Abhilash Vakkada, additional, Vaishampayan, Parag, additional, Guan, Lisa, additional, Perl, Scott M., additional, Telling, Jon, additional, Boothroyd, Ian M., additional, Tyson, Ollie, additional, Realff, James, additional, Rowbottom, Joseph, additional, Laurent, Boris, additional, Gunn, Matt, additional, Shah, Shaily, additional, Singh, Srijan, additional, Paling, Sean, additional, Edwards, Tom, additional, Yeoman, Louise, additional, Meehan, Emma, additional, Toth, Christopher, additional, Scovell, Paul, additional, and Suckling, Barbara, additional

Published
2018
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29. Evidence for the role of ions in aerosol nucleation

Author

Enghoff, Martin B., Pedersen, Jens Olaf Pepke, Bondo, Torsten, Johnson, Matthew S., Paling, Sean, and Svensmark, Henrik

Subjects
Aerosols -- Chemical properties, Aerosols -- Thermal properties, Ionization -- Analysis, Nucleation -- Analysis, Sulfur dioxide -- Chemical properties, Sulfur dioxide -- Thermal properties, Chemicals, plastics and rubber industries
Published
2008

30. Planetary science and exploration in the deep subsurface: results from the MINAR Program, Boulby Mine, UK

Author

Payler, Samuel J., primary, Biddle, Jennifer F., additional, Coates, Andrew J., additional, Cousins, Claire R., additional, Cross, Rachel E., additional, Cullen, David C., additional, Downs, Michael T., additional, Direito, Susana O. L., additional, Edwards, Thomas, additional, Gray, Amber L., additional, Genis, Jac, additional, Gunn, Matthew, additional, Hansford, Graeme M., additional, Harkness, Patrick, additional, Holt, John, additional, Josset, Jean-Luc, additional, Li, Xuan, additional, Lees, David S., additional, Lim, Darlene S. S., additional, Mchugh, Melissa, additional, Mcluckie, David, additional, Meehan, Emma, additional, Paling, Sean M., additional, Souchon, Audrey, additional, Yeoman, Louise, additional, and Cockell, Charles S., additional

Published
2016
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32. Aerosol nucleation induced by a high energy particle beam

Author

Enghoff, Martin Andreas Bødker, Pedersen, Jens Olaf Pepke, Uggerhøj, Ulrik I., Paling, Sean M., Svensmark, Henrik, Enghoff, Martin Andreas Bødker, Pedersen, Jens Olaf Pepke, Uggerhøj, Ulrik I., Paling, Sean M., and Svensmark, Henrik

Abstract

We have studied sulfuric acid aerosol nucleation in an atmospheric pressure reaction chamber using a 580 MeV electron beam to ionize the volume of the reaction chamber. We find a clear contribution from ion-induced nucleation and consider this to be the first unambiguous observation of the ion-effect on aerosol nucleation using a particle beam under conditions that resemble the Earth's atmosphere. By comparison with ionization using a gamma source we further show that the nature of the ionizing particles is not important for the ion-induced component of the nucleation. This implies that inexpensive ionization sources - as opposed to expensive accelerator beams - can be used for investigations of ion-induced nucleation.

Published
2011

33. Nucleation in an ultra low ionization environment

Author

Pedersen, Jens Olaf Pepke, Enghoff, Martin Andreas Bødker, Paling, Sean, Svensmark, Henrik, Pedersen, Jens Olaf Pepke, Enghoff, Martin Andreas Bødker, Paling, Sean, and Svensmark, Henrik

Abstract

Atmospheric ions can enhance the nucleation of aerosols, as has been established by experiments, observation, and theory. In the clean marine atmosphere ionization is mainly caused by cosmic rays which in turn are controlled by the activity of the Sun, thus providing a potential link between solar activity and climate. In order to understand the effect ions may have on the production of cloud condensation nuclei the overall contribution of ion induced nucleation to the global production of secondary aerosols must be determined. One issue with determining this contribution is that several mechanisms for nucleation exist and it can be difficult to determine the relative importance of the various mechanisms in a given nucleation event when both ion induced and electrically neutral nucleation mechanisms are at work at the same time. We have carried out nucleation experiments in the Boulby Underground Laboratory, located 1100 meters below ground, thus reducing the flux of ionizing cosmic radiation by six orders of magnitude. Similarly we have reduced the gamma background by shielding the experiment in lead and copper. Finally we have used air stored for several weeks and passed through an active charcoal filter in order to reduce the Radon concentration. In this way we have been able to make nucleation experiments with very low ionizing background, meaning that we can rule out ion induced nucleation as a contributing mechanism. Our experimental setup is a 50 L electropolished stainless steel reactor at near atmospheric conditions. The chamber contains clean air with the addition of water vapour, ozone, and SO2. Using UV lights at 254 nm ozone is photolyzed, leading to the production of sulphuric acid and thus aerosols. An 18 MBq Caesium-137 gamma ray source with various amounts of lead in front allows us to alter the ionization in our chamber. By making series of nucleation bursts with varying amounts of ionizing radiation we then gauge the relative importance of ion ind

Published
2010

34. Aerosol nucleation induced by a high energy particle beam

Author

Enghoff, Martin Andreas Bødker, Pedersen, Jens Olaf Pepke, Uggerhøj, Ulrik I., Paling, Sean, Svensmark, Henrik, Enghoff, Martin Andreas Bødker, Pedersen, Jens Olaf Pepke, Uggerhøj, Ulrik I., Paling, Sean, and Svensmark, Henrik

Abstract

The effect of ions in aerosol nucleation is a subject where much remains to be discovered. That ions can enhance nucleation has been shown by theory, observations, and experiments. However, the exact mechanism still remains to be determined. One question is if the nature of the ionization affects the nucleation. This is an essential question since many experiments have been performed using radioactive sources that ionize differently than the cosmic rays which are responsible for the majority of atmospheric ionization. Here we report on an experimental study of sulphuric acid aerosol nucleation under near atmospheric conditions using a 580 MeV electron beam to ionize the volume of the reaction chamber. We find a clear and significant contribution from ion induced nucleation and consider this to be an unambiguous observation of the ion-effect on aerosol nucleation using a particle beam under conditions not far from the Earth's atmosphere. By comparison with ionization using a gamma source we further show that the nature of the ionizing particles is not important for the ion component of the nucleation.

Published
2010

39. A comparison of [sup 99m] Tc-HMPAO SPET changes in dementia with Lewy bodies and Alzheimer's disease using statistical parametric mapping.

Author

Colloby, Sean J., Fenwick, John D., Williams, David E., Paling, Sean M., Lobotesis, Kyriakos, Ballard, Clive, McKeith, Ian, and O'Brien, John T.

Subjects
LEWY body dementia, ALZHEIMER'S disease, POSITRON emission tomography
Abstract

Differences in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) between subjects with Alzheimer's disease (AD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and healthy volunteers were investigated using statistical parametric mapping (SPM99). Forty-eight AD, 23 DLB and 20 agematched control subjects participated. Technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (HMPAO) brain single-photon emission tomography (SPET) scans were acquired for each subject using a single-headed rotating gamma camera (IGE CamStar XR/T). The SPET images were spatially normalised and group comparison was performed by SPM99. In addition, covariate analysis was undertaken on the standardised images taking the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores as a variable. Applying a height threshold of P≤ 0.001 uncorrected, significant perfusion deficits in the parietal and frontal regions of the brain were observed in both AD and DLB groups compared with the control subjects. In addition, significant temporoparietal perfusion deficits were identified in the AD subjects, whereas the DLB patients had deficits in the occipital region. Comparison of dementia groups (height threshold of P≤0.01 uncorrected) yielded hypoperfusion in both the parietal [Brodmann area (BA) 7] and occipital (BA 17, 18) regions of the brain in DLB compared with AD. Abnormalities in these areas, which included visual cortex and several areas involved in higher visual processing and visuospatial function, may be important in understanding the visual hallucinations and visuospatial deficits which are characteristic of DLB. Covariate analysis indicated group differences between AD and DLB in terms of a positive correlation between cognitive test score and temporoparietal blood flow. In conclusion, we found evidence of frontal and parietal hypoperfusion in both AD and DLB, while temporal perfusion deficits were observed exclusively in AD and parieto-occipital deficits in DLB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2002
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40. Boulby International Subsurface Astrobiology Laboratory.

Author

Cockell, Charles S., Payler, Samuel, Paling, Sean, and McLuckie, Dave

Subjects
SPACE biology, TECHNOLOGICAL innovations, POTASH mining, MARS (Planet), ASTRONAUTICS
Abstract

The article focuses on the Boulby International Subsurface Astrobiology Laboratory (BISAL) in Saltburn-on-the-Sea in North Yorkshire, England. Topics discussed include BISAL's concentration on in-situ deep subsurface astrobiology and space technology development, its location in the Boulby potash mine, and the study of environments with analogues to the planet Mars. Also mentioned are capabilities to be provided for the study of the Earth's biosphere and the testing of space technology.

Published
2013
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41. An Ionic Limit to Life in the Deep Subsurface

Author

Payler, Samuel, Biddle, Jennifer, Sherwood Lollar, Barbara, Fox-Powell, Mark, Edwards, Thomas, Ngwenya, Bryne, Paling, Sean, Cockell, Charles, Payler, Samuel, Biddle, Jennifer, Sherwood Lollar, Barbara, Fox-Powell, Mark, Edwards, Thomas, Ngwenya, Bryne, Paling, Sean, and Cockell, Charles

Abstract

The physical and chemical factors that can limit or prevent microbial growth in the deep subsurface are not well defined. Brines from an evaporite sequence were sampled in the Boulby Mine, United Kingdom between 800 and 1300 m depth. Ionic, hydrogen and oxygen isotopic composition were used to identify two brine sources, an aquifer situated in strata overlying the mine, and another ambiguous source distinct from the regional groundwater. The ability of the brines to support microbial replication was tested with culturing experiments using a diversity of inocula. The examined brines were found to be permissive for growth, except one. Testing this brine’s physicochemical properties showed it to have low water activity and to be chaotropic, which we attribute to the high concentration of magnesium and chloride ions. Metagenomic sequencing of the brines that supported growth showed their microbial communities to be similar to each other and comparable to those found in other hypersaline environments. These data show that solutions high in dissolved ions can shape the microbial diversity of the continental deep subsurface biosphere. Furthermore, under certain circumstances, complex brines can establish a hard limit to microbial replication in the deep biosphere, highlighting the potential for subsurface uninhabitable aqueous environments at depths far shallower than a geothermally-defined limit to life.

42. An Ionic Limit to Life in the Deep Subsurface

Author

Payler, Samuel, Biddle, Jennifer, Sherwood Lollar, Barbara, Fox-Powell, Mark, Edwards, Thomas, Ngwenya, Bryne, Paling, Sean, Cockell, Charles, Payler, Samuel, Biddle, Jennifer, Sherwood Lollar, Barbara, Fox-Powell, Mark, Edwards, Thomas, Ngwenya, Bryne, Paling, Sean, and Cockell, Charles

Abstract

The physical and chemical factors that can limit or prevent microbial growth in the deep subsurface are not well defined. Brines from an evaporite sequence were sampled in the Boulby Mine, United Kingdom between 800 and 1300 m depth. Ionic, hydrogen and oxygen isotopic composition were used to identify two brine sources, an aquifer situated in strata overlying the mine, and another ambiguous source distinct from the regional groundwater. The ability of the brines to support microbial replication was tested with culturing experiments using a diversity of inocula. The examined brines were found to be permissive for growth, except one. Testing this brine’s physicochemical properties showed it to have low water activity and to be chaotropic, which we attribute to the high concentration of magnesium and chloride ions. Metagenomic sequencing of the brines that supported growth showed their microbial communities to be similar to each other and comparable to those found in other hypersaline environments. These data show that solutions high in dissolved ions can shape the microbial diversity of the continental deep subsurface biosphere. Furthermore, under certain circumstances, complex brines can establish a hard limit to microbial replication in the deep biosphere, highlighting the potential for subsurface uninhabitable aqueous environments at depths far shallower than a geothermally-defined limit to life.

43. Passive, continuous monitoring of carbon dioxide geostorage using muon tomography.

Author

Gluyas J, Thompson L, Allen D, Benton C, Chadwick P, Clark S, Klinger J, Kudryavtsev V, Lincoln D, Maunder B, Mitchell C, Nolan S, Paling S, Spooner N, Staykov L, Telfer S, Woodward D, and Coleman M

Abstract

Carbon capture and storage is a transition technology from a past and present fuelled by coal, oil and gas and a planned future dominated by renewable energy sources. The technology involves the capture of carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel power stations and other point sources, compression of the CO 2 into a fluid, transporting it and injecting it deep beneath the Earth's surface into depleted petroleum reservoirs and other porous formations. Once injected, the CO 2 must be monitored to ensure that it is emplaced and assimilated as planned and that none leaks back to surface. A variety of methods have been deployed to monitor the CO 2 storage site and many such methods have been adapted from oilfield practice. However, such methods are commonly indirect, episodic, require active signal generation and remain expensive throughout the monitoring period that may last for hundreds of years. A modelling framework was developed to concurrently simulate CO 2 geostorage conditions and background cosmic-ray muon tomography, in which the potential was assessed for using variations in muon attenuation, due to changes in CO 2 abundance, as a means of CO 2 detection. From this, we developed a passive, continuous monitoring method for CO 2 storage sites using muon tomography, the tools for which can be deployed during the active drilling phase (development) of the storage site. To do this, it was necessary to develop a muon detector that could be used in the hostile environment (saline, high temperature) of the well bore. A prototype detector has been built and tested at the 1.1 km deep Boulby potash mine on the northeast coast of England, supported by the existing STFC Boulby Underground Laboratory on the site. The detector is now ready to be commercialized.This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Cosmic-ray muography'., (© 2018 The Author(s).)

Published
2018
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