Collaborative Research: A Depleted Argon Detector for a Dark Matter Search

合作研究：用于暗物质搜索的贫氩探测器

• 批准号: 1004060
• 负责人: Hanguo Wang
• 金额: $ 47.22万
• 依托单位: University of California-Los Angeles
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-10-01 至 2014-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1004060&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Depleted; Argon; Detector

The existence of dark matter is known from gravitational effects, but its nature remains a deep mystery. One possibility motivated by other considerations in elementary particle physics is that dark matter consists of undiscovered elementary particles. Axions and Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) are two possibilities. The thermal motion of the WIMPS comprising the dark matter halo surrounding the galaxy and the earth should result in WIMP-nuclear collisions of sufficient energy to be observable by sensitive laboratory apparatus.This award is to develop and deploy a small liquid argon detector that has high sensitivity for direct detection of WIMP collisions. This detector, DarkSide-50, builds on past experience and introduces innovative features that will allow it to operate in a background-free mode and thereby achieve a significant science result in spite of its relatively small size. At the same time, this detector will serve as a prototype for a future multi-ton detector. The main innovations being introduced:- Underground argon depleted in radioactive 39Ar;- Low background, high-quantum-efficiency QUPID photo-detectors; and- A compact high-efficiency external veto for neutrons.These innovations, together with the powerful two-parameter background rejection features of argon will result in a detector of unprecedented background-free performance. DarkSide-50 will either detect WIMP dark matter or exclude a substantial fraction of the favored parameter space. DarkSide-50 will benefit from the facility for extraction and refinement of depleted argon, independently funded by the NSF through a grant to Princeton University. Broader Impacts: this activity will advance the development of astroparticle physics and its scientific and educational mission in a variety of ways: (1) it will offer an excellent opportunity for the training of students, who will have a chance to contribute to the success of a cutting edge project in fundamental science and advanced engineering; (2) it will benefit society by developing techniques that could find application in areas ranging from national security to medical imaging; (3) it will support continued development of successful E&O programs such as the Princeton-Abruzzo-South Dakota summer school for high school students.

暗物质的存在是从引力效应中知道的，但其性质仍然是一个深厚的谜。基本粒子物理学中其他考虑因素的一种可能性是暗物质由未发现的基本颗粒组成。轴和弱相互作用的巨粒子（WIMP）是两种可能性。 wimps的热运动包括围绕银河系和地球的暗物质光环，应导致敏感实验室设备可观察到足够能量的wimp-核碰撞。该奖项旨在开发和部署一个高敏感性的小型液体氩探测器，该探测器具有很高的敏感性，以直接检测wimp碰撞。该探测器（Darkside-50）建立在过去的经验上，并引入了创新功能，该功能将使其能够以无背景模式运行，从而获得了重要的科学成果，尽管它的尺寸相对较小。同时，该检测器将作为未来多吨检测器的原型。引入的主要创新： - 地下氩气在放射性39AR中耗尽； - 低背景，高量子效率Qupid potheTectors；和 - 中子的紧凑型高效外部否决权。这些创新以及强大的两参数背景拒绝特征将导致探测前所未有的无背景性能。 Darkside-50将检测到WIMP暗物质，或者排除大量参数空间的大部分。 Darkside-50将从设施中受益，用于提取和改进耗尽的氩气，该氩是由NSF独立于普林斯顿大学提供的。更广泛的影响：这项活动将以各种方式推进Astropicticle物理学及其科学和教育使命的发展：（1）它将为培训学生提供绝佳的机会，他们将有机会为基础科学和高级工程领域的尖端项目的成功做出贡献； （2）它将通过开发可以在国家安全到医学成像的领域中找到应用的技术来使社会受益； （3）它将支持成功开发成功的E＆O计划，例如普林斯顿 - 阿布鲁佐 - 南达科他州的高中生暑期学校。