Development and optimization of environmental radioactivity measurement techniques

This PhD project is part of a broader collaboration between La Sapienza University and a local company. During the first two years of the program, I conducted research at a regional company specializing in radioprotection measurements, dosimetry, and environmental radioactivity, with a particular focus on Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM). The company utilizes gamma-ray spectrometry and liquid scintillation techniques for such measurements. During my time at the company, I worked extensively with High-Purity Germanium (HPGe) detectors to perform gamma spectrometry and employed liquid scintillation counting to determine the 14C content of samples. This method was used to assess whether the samples contained bio-based carbon. The experience and expertise I gained during this period provided a solid foundation for the work I conducted in the final year of my PhD within the CYGNO and CUPID experiments. Specifically, for the CYGNO experiment I was responsible for analyzing samples measured with HPGe detectors to evaluate the concentration of isotopes and to optimize the selection of materials with low intrinsic radioactivity for the construction of the CYGNO demonstrator. For CUPID experiment, I developed Cherenkov detectors for environmental radioactivity monitoring, focusing on muon detection and neutron moderation. Given the diverse nature of the work carried out over the course of my doctoral search, the thesis is structured into three main parts: Bio-based carbon content measurements with LSC, The CYGNO experiment, and The CUPID experiment.