Speaker
Dr
Jelena Maricic
(Drexel University (US))
Description
DarkSide represents a staged program for direct detection of dark matter utilizing two-phase argon time projection chamber with the goal of achieving a high sensitivity limit or convincing detection of dark matter.
The first stage in the program is DarkSide-10, a 10 kg prototype detector that was running in Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso Counting Test Facility (CTF) during summer of 2011. The prototype was used to test argon light yield and other features necessary to achieve high sensitivity in the physics detector. The DarkSide-10 will be followed DarkSide-50 detector featuring a 50 kg active mass depleted argon target that is designed to reach sensitivity of 10^-45 cm^2 and will also be deployed in CTF. Besides the use of depleted argon that will allow use of pulse shape discrimination, other unique features such as neutron veto and muon veto along with active detector calibration will result in a detector capable of achieving background-free conditions. Construction of the neutron veto has been finished and DarkSide-50 is expected to start taking data in the Fall of 2012. The third stage of the program is DarkSide-G2, a second generation detector with 5 ton active mass of liquid argon reaching 10^-47
cm^2 sensitivity level, currently going into an R&D phase. In my talk, I will present DarkSide program, R&D activities and steps toward high sensitivity background-free measurement.
Author
Dr
Jelena Maricic
(Drexel University (US))
