System upgrade for $\mu$Bq/m$^3$ level $^{222}$Rn concentration measurement

Abstract

The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO), a 20 kton multipurpose underground liquid scintillator detector, was proposed for the determination of the neutrino mass hierarchy as primary physics goal. The central detector will be submerged in a water Cherenkov detector to lower the background from the environment and cosmic muons. Radon is one of the primary background sources. Nitrogen will be used in several sub-systems, and a highly sensitive radon detector has to be developed to measure its radon concentration. A system has been developed based on $^{222}$Rn enrichment of activated carbon and $^{222}$Rn detection based on the electrostatic collection. This paper presents the detail of a $\mu$Bq/m$^3$ level $^{222}$Rn concentration measurement system and gives detailed information about how the adsorption coefficient was measured and how the temperature, flow rate, and $^{222}$Rn concentration affect the adsorption coefficient.