We are going to perform a series of measurements where the 14C/12C ratio will
be measured from several liquid scintillator samples with a dedicated setup. The setup is
designed with the aim of measuring ratios smaller than 10−18. Measurements take place in two
underground laboratories: in the Baksan Neutrino Observatory, Russia and in the Pyh¨asalmi
mine, Finland. In Baksan the measurements started in 2015 and in Pyh¨asalmi they start in the
beginning of 2015. In order to fully understand the operation of the setup and its background
contributions a development of simulation packages has also been started.
Low-energy neutrino detection with a liquid scintillator requires that the intrinsic 14C
content in the liquid is extremely low. In the Borexino CTF detector at Gran Sasso, Italy
the 14C/12C ratio of 2 × 10−18 has been achieved being the lowest 14C concentration ever
measured. In principle, the older the oil or gas source that the liquid scintillator is derived of
and the deeper it situates, the smaller the 14C/12C ratio is supposed to be. This, however, is
not generally the case, and the ratio is probably determined by the U and Th content of the
local environment.peerReviewe