Investigating high radio-purity electroformation capabilities at Boulby Underground Laboratory

极端的放射性纯度是粒子物理学中稀有事件搜索的关键，包括暗物质（DM）和无中微子双β衰变的搜索。电铸铜（EFCu）是用于制造实验和放射性分析程序的超高放射性纯度结构的首选材料。特别是，在地下实验室的洁净室中生产的EFCu通过避免宇宙成因活化来最大限度地提高放射性纯度。加拿大的SNOLab正致力于通过举办电铸铜制造实验（ECUME）来建立世界上最大的地下电铸设施。ECUME希望提供一个直径为140厘米的球形正比计数器，用于直接DM搜索，计划于2021年初开始建设。通过伯明翰对ECUME的贡献，博尔比地下实验室和整个英国获得高放射性纯度EFCu的专业知识，建立地下电铸能力的独特机会。这一发展将进一步加强Boulby世界领先的超低本底物质分析设施，以及支持和主办未来实验活动的能力。

Extreme radiopurity is key for rare-event searches in particle physics, including searches for Dark Matter (DM) and neutrinoless double beta-decay. Electroformed copper (EFCu) is the material of choice for manufacturing ultra-high radiopurity structures for experiments and radio-assay programs. In particular, EFCu produced in clean-rooms at underground laboratories maximises radiopurity by avoiding cosmogenic activation. SNOLab in Canada is working towards establishing the world's largest underground electroforming facility by hosting the Electroformed CUprum Manufacturing Experiment (ECUME). ECUME aspires to deliver a 140 cm in diameter spherical proportional counter for use in direct DM searches, with construction scheduled to start early in 2021. Through Birmingham's contribution to ECUME, the unique opportunity arises for Boulby Underground Laboratory, and the UK in general, to acquire expertise on high radio-purity EFCu, towards establishing an underground electroforming capability. This development will further strengthen Boulby's world-leading ultra-low background material assay facility and the capacity to support and host future experimental activities.