MEASUREMENTS OF NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY IN THE SALT CAVERN OF THE POLKOWICE--SIEROSZOWICE COPPER MINE.

Due to their low radioactivity background, underground physics laboratories offer a unique possibility for investigating extremely rare phenomena like proton decay, dark matter signals or neutrino physics/astrophysics related issues. The knowledge of the natural radioactivity background is essential for the success of an underground physics experiment. The following measurements of the natural radioactivity background, in the foreseen location of an underground physics laboratory in the salt layer, in the Polkowice-Sieroszowice copper mine are presented: concentration of natural radio-isotopes from in situ obtained gamma-ray spectra and from alpha spectroscopy of rock samples, radon concentration in the air and the dose determination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]