XENON FUTURES: R&D for a Global Rare Event Observatory - Phase 1

氙气期货：R

• 批准号: ST/T005823/1
• 负责人: Henrique Araujo
• 金额: $ 31.81万
• 依托单位: Imperial College London
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2019 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=ST%2FT005823%2F1
• 关键词: XENON; FUTURES; R&D; Global; Rare

Astrophysical and cosmological evidence has established the Standard Model of Cosmology which suggests that less than 5% of the universe is made of matter that we believe we understand, with the remaining >95% shared between dark matter and dark energy. Dark matter is suggested to contribute ~27% to the total energy density of the universe. Existing dark matter detectors, including those under construction in 2019 such as LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ), are primarily geared towards detecting the collisions of WIMPs (Weakly Interacting Massive Particles) with ordinary nuclei - contained in a liquid xenon target in the specific case of LZ. With LZ entering its data-taking and exploitation phase during 2020, it is timely to start research and development for future liquid xenon detectors now.This 18-month project delivers the first phase of a wider R&D programme for developing and preparing UK contributions for a future liquid xenon Generation 3 (G3) Global Rare Event Observatory. The ZEPLIN programme of experiments, operated at the Boulby mine (UK), pioneered the liquid xenon technology for dark matter searches. The design is inherently scalable and, with sizes large enough to benefit maximally from self-shielding, these detectors have been the world-leading technology in searches for dark matter scattering ever since. The proponents have delivered successfully the UK contribution to the Generation 2 (G2) experiment LZ which is about to switch on, and an ultimate G3 experiment will build on that effort and extend the search sensitivity right down to where new neutrino backgrounds will become dominant for masses of dark matter candidates of >5 GeV. Through this R&D, a G3 experiment will also address lower masses, which are less well-constrained but equally well-motivated candidates.The main aims of this R&D phase are to enhance the scientific reach of a G3 experiment through demonstrating sensitivity via the Migdal effect, exploring xenon doping with light elements, developing scalable VUV-SiPM readout systems as potential replacements for PMTs, reducing backgrounds (especially radon), and producing significant contributions to the conceptual and preliminary designs of the G3 experiment.

天体物理学和宇宙学证据已经建立了宇宙学标准模型，该模型表明宇宙中不到 5% 是由我们认为我们理解的物质组成的，其余 95% 以上由暗物质和暗能量组成。据推测，暗物质对宇宙总能量密度的贡献约为 27%。现有的暗物质探测器，包括 2019 年正在建设的暗物质探测器，例如 LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ)，主要用于探测 WIMP（弱相互作用大质量粒子）与普通原子核的碰撞——在特定情况下，普通原子核包含在液态氙目标中。 LZ。随着 LZ 在 2020 年进入数据采集和开发阶段，现在是时候开始研究和开发未来的液氙探测器了。这个为期 18 个月的项目是更广泛的研发计划的第一阶段，旨在开发和准备英国为未来第三代液氙（G3）全球稀有事件观测站。在英国 Boulby 矿运行的 ZEPLIN 实验计划开创了用于暗物质搜索的液氙技术。该设计本质上是可扩展的，并且尺寸足够大，可以最大限度地受益于自屏蔽，这些探测器从那时起就一直是搜索暗物质散射的世界领先技术。支持者已成功交付了英国对即将启动的第二代 (G2) 实验 LZ 的贡献，最终的 G3 实验将在此基础上进行，并将搜索灵敏度扩展到新的中微子背景将成为主导的位置。 >5 GeV 的候选暗物质质量。通过这项研发，G3 实验还将解决较低质量的问题，这些质量较少受到良好的约束，但同样具有良好的动机。该研发阶段的主要目标是通过 Migdal 效应证明敏感性，提高 G3 实验的科学影响力，探索用轻元素掺杂氙，开发可扩展的 VUV-SiPM 读出系统作为 PMT 的潜在替代品，减少背景（特别是氡），并对 G3 的概念和初步设计做出重大贡献 实验。

项目成果

The MIGDAL experiment: Measuring a rare atomic process to aid the search for dark matter

MIGDAL 实验：测量罕见的原子过程以帮助寻找暗物质

• DOI: 10.1016/j.astropartphys.2023.102853
• 发表时间: 2023
• 期刊: Astroparticle Physics
• 影响因子: 3.5
• 作者: Araújo H