Speaker
Description
KDK and KDK+ research is focused on measuring the rare decays of Potassium-40
(40K). The KDK experiment recently recorded the first experimental measurement
of 40K electron capture decay directly to the ground state of 40Ar. KDK+ will follow
this with an experiment aimed at obtaining a refined experimental decay constant
for the β+ decay in 40K as the currently accepted value is in tension with modern
theoretical predictions. The initial measurement will be performed using a liquid
scintillator due to a high counting efficiency for β+ decays, and they can be loaded
with a variety of chemicals for calibration purposes. This liquid scintillator will be
contained in a 300 mL vessel with PMTs placed on either end and placed in the
centre bore of an annulus with four Sodium Iodide crystals surrounding it
measured by PMTs. The experiment will use a liquid scintillator loaded with
40K. The emitted positron will be detected in the liquid scintillator itself, while the
two 512 keV gammas from its annihilation will be detected by an NaI annulus
around the liquid. This apparatus requires systematic calibration of the NaI
crystals, the liquid scintillator, and the PMTs measuring them. Work has been
done to calibrate the liquid scintillator vessel, as well as an extensive investigation
into the methodology for loading potassium into a liquid scintillator. We have also
studied the light yield of the loaded liquid scintillator, as well as its stability over
durations of several weeks and compared these results to known stable
scintillators.
| Keyword-1 | Particle |
|---|---|
| Keyword-2 | Nuclear |