Radon is one of the most important radioactive backgrounds affecting experiments searching for rare-events, including dark matter interactions and neutrinoless double-beta decay. As these experiments become increasingly sensitive, improved measurement and control of radon is required to reach their future sensitivity goals.

Radon measurements are performed by laboratories around the world, but much of the underlying data on material emanation, filtration performance and radon suppression remains experiment-specific. Measurements are often made under laboratory-dependent conditions and using different analysis methods, making results difficult to compare directly and limiting the ability of the international community to share and interpret measurements consistently

This project will contribute to the emerging Radon Zero Backgrounds network, which brings together researchers working on radon measurement and mitigation in low-background physics. The student will contribute to two major activities:

• International radon database: Compile and standardise radon emanation measurements from low-background laboratories worldwide
• Interlaboratory comparison: Analyse measurements of common reference materials across ANU and participating international radon facilities

Students will gain hands-on training in detector physics and low-background techniques while participating in an international research collaboration, with opportunities to contribute to scientific publications and potentially visit collaborating international radon facilities.

This project suits students motivated by experimental, hands-on hardware research. No specific background is required.