{
  "abstract": "We present the first direct measurements of the neutron background at the Colorado Underground Research Institute (CURIE), a shallow-underground facility with an effective overburden of approximately $400$~m.w.e.\\ in the Edgar Experimental Mine in Idaho Springs, Colorado. The radiogenic and muon-induced components were characterized in the Subatomic Particle Hideout. The radiogenic component was measured with a custom Bonner Cylinder Spectrometer comprising a $^{3}$He proportional counter and six cylindrical high-density polyethylene moderators. Its response functions were simulated in \\textsc{geant4}, empirically calibrated using a $^{239}$Pu-$^{9}$Be source and the shadow-cone method, and then corrected to account for the approximately isotropic underground field. Unfolding the measured count rates gives a total local scalar neutron flux, dominated by radiogenic production, for $E_n\\lesssim\\SI{10}{\\MeV}$ of $(2.51\\pm0.58_{\\rm stat}\\pm0.39_{\\rm sys})\\times10^{-5}$~\\si{\\per\\square\\centi\\meter\\per\\second}. The muon-induced component was measured with a BC-501A organic liquid scintillator operated for \\SI{1431}{\\hour}. Pulse shape discrimination identified 55~$\\pm$~7 neutron candidates. Using the simulated detector response, these counts yield an integral muon-induced neutron flux at the rock--cavern boundary above \\SI{10.5}{\\MeV} of $(2.09\\pm0.29_{\\rm stat}\\,{}^{+0.79}_{-0.53}{}_{\\rm sys})\\times10^{-7}$~\\si{\\per\\square\\centi\\meter\\per\\second}. This flux uses the first-entry, boundary-area normalization of a previous CURIE simulation study. Its central value is approximately \\SI{12}{\\percent} higher than the site-specific prediction but is consistent within the reported uncertainties. Together, these measurements characterize the radiogenic and high-energy cosmogenic neutron environments at CURIE and provide quantitative input for planning future low-background experiments at the facility.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2610.31856",
  "author_total": 5,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Dakota K. Keblbeck"
    },
    {
      "name": "Uwe Greife"
    },
    {
      "name": "Eric Mayotte"
    },
    {
      "name": "Wouter Van De Pontseele"
    },
    {
      "name": "Kyle G. Leach"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/a7a1dkmchd1rr.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2610.31856",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "a7a1dkmchd1rr",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.31856",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "hep-ex"
    ],
    [
      "arxiv",
      "nucl-ex"
    ],
    [
      "arxiv",
      "physics.ins-det"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "3106|Neutrino Physics Research"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223704597",
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2610.31856",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-22",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/a7a1dkmchd1rr.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:35:15Z",
      "native_id": "2610.31856",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.31856"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:physics.ins-det",
      "subfield": "applied-instrumentation"
    },
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:hep-ex",
      "subfield": "high-energy"
    },
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:nucl-ex",
      "subfield": "nuclear"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Measurements of the neutron background for the Colorado Underground Research Institute (CURIE)",
  "title_text": "Measurements of the neutron background for the Colorado Underground Research Institute (CURIE)",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:35:15Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/a7a1dkmchd1rr",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}