Characterization Of Large Area Avalanche Photodiodes For The Measurement Of The Electron Capture Decay Of 40K To The Ground State Of 40Ar
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Authors
Stukel, Matthew
Date
Type
thesis
Language
eng
Keyword
Potassium , K-40 , Avalanche Photodiode , DAMA , Electron Capture , Modular Total Absorbtion Spectrometer , MTAS , KDK , Third Unique Forbidden Decay
Alternative Title
Abstract
The branching ratio of the direct decay of 40K to the ground state of 40Ar through electron capture has never been experimentally measured. This rate has been shown to be vital in constraining the DAMA/LIBRA (DArk MAtter/Large sodium Iodide Bulk for RAre processes) dark matter signal claim and is a rare example of a unique third forbidden decay. The KDK (pun for Potassium Decay) project attempts to measure the ratio of electron capture to the excited state of 40Ar versus the electron capture to its ground state. The experiment will combine an enriched 40K source attached to a low energy x-ray detector surrounded by an almost 4pi coverage gamma ray detector. The low energy x-ray detector will be a Large Area Avalanche Photodiode, while the gamma ray detector will be the Modular Total Absorption Spectrometer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. This thesis focuses on the development, characterization and feasibility of avalanche photodiodes as low energy x-ray detectors for the KDK measurement.
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CC0 1.0 Universal
Queen's University's Thesis/Dissertation Non-Exclusive License for Deposit to QSpace and Library and Archives Canada
ProQuest PhD and Master's Theses International Dissemination Agreement
Intellectual Property Guidelines at Queen's University
Copying and Preserving Your Thesis
This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.
Queen's University's Thesis/Dissertation Non-Exclusive License for Deposit to QSpace and Library and Archives Canada
ProQuest PhD and Master's Theses International Dissemination Agreement
Intellectual Property Guidelines at Queen's University
Copying and Preserving Your Thesis
This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.