A Geant4-based Monte Carlo package named G4DS has been developed to simulate the response of DarkSide-50, an experiment operating since 2013 at LNGS, designed to detect WIMP interactions in liquid ...argon. In the process of WIMP searches, DarkSide-50 has achieved two fundamental milestones: the rejection of electron recoil background with a power of ∼107, using the pulse shape discrimination technique, and the measurement of the residual 39Ar contamination in underground argon, ∼3 orders of magnitude lower with respect to atmospheric argon. These results rely on the accurate simulation of the detector response to the liquid argon scintillation, its ionization, and electron-ion recombination processes. This work provides a complete overview of the DarkSide Monte Carlo and of its performance, with a particular focus on PARIS, the custom-made liquid argon response model.
Abstract Aria is a plant hosting a $${350}\,\hbox {m}$$ 350 m cryogenic isotopic distillation column, the tallest ever built, which is being installed in a mine shaft at Carbosulcis S.p.A., ...Nuraxi-Figus (SU), Italy. Aria is one of the pillars of the argon dark-matter search experimental program, lead by the Global Argon Dark Matter Collaboration. It was designed to reduce the isotopic abundance of $${^{39}\hbox {Ar}}$$ 39 Ar in argon extracted from underground sources, called Underground Argon (UAr), which is used for dark-matter searches. Indeed, $${^{39}\hbox {Ar}}$$ 39 Ar is a $$\beta $$ β -emitter of cosmogenic origin, whose activity poses background and pile-up concerns in the detectors. In this paper, we discuss the requirements, design, construction, tests, and projected performance of the plant for the isotopic cryogenic distillation of argon. We also present the successful results of the isotopic cryogenic distillation of nitrogen with a prototype plant.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Proportional electroluminescence (EL) in noble gases is used in two-phase detectors for dark matter searches to record (in the gas phase) the ionization signal induced by particle scattering in the ...liquid phase. The “standard” EL mechanism is considered to be due to noble gas excimer emission in the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV). In addition, there are two alternative mechanisms, producing light in the visible and near infrared (NIR) ranges. The first is due to bremsstrahlung of electrons scattered on neutral atoms (“neutral bremsstrahlung”, NBrS). The second, responsible for electron avalanche scintillation in the NIR at higher electric fields, is due to transitions between excited atomic states. In this work, we have for the first time demonstrated two alternative techniques of the optical readout of two-phase argon detectors, in the visible and NIR range, using a silicon photomultiplier matrix and electroluminescence due to either neutral bremsstrahlung or avalanche scintillation. The amplitude yield and position resolution were measured for these readout techniques, which allowed to assess the detection threshold for electron and nuclear recoils in two-phase argon detectors for dark matter searches. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first practical application of the NBrS effect in detection science.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The Protvino accelerator facility located in the Moscow region, Russia, is in a good position to offer a rich experimental research program in the field of neutrino physics. Of particular interest is ...the possibility to direct a neutrino beam from Protvino towards the KM3NeT/ORCA detector, which is currently under construction in the Mediterranean Sea 40 km offshore Toulon, France. This proposal is known as P2O. Thanks to its baseline of 2595 km, this experiment would yield an unparalleled sensitivity to matter effects in the Earth, allowing for the determination of the neutrino mass ordering with a high level of certainty after only a few years of running at a modest beam intensity of
≈
90
kW
. With a prolonged exposure (
≈
1500
kW
year
), a
2
σ
sensitivity to the leptonic CP-violating Dirac phase can be achieved. A second stage of the experiment, comprising a further intensity upgrade of the accelerator complex and a densified version of the ORCA detector (Super-ORCA), would allow for up to a
6
σ
sensitivity to CP violation and a
10
∘
-
17
∘
resolution on the CP phase after 10 years of running with a 450 kW beam, competitive with other planned experiments. The initial composition and energy spectrum of the neutrino beam would need to be monitored by a near detector, to be constructed several hundred meters downstream from the proton beam target. The same neutrino beam and near detector set-up would also allow for neutrino-nucleus cross section measurements to be performed. A short-baseline sterile neutrino search experiment would also be possible.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
A prototype of the calibration system for the Liquid Scintillator Veto (LSV) and for the Water Cherenkov Veto (WCV) of the DarkSide detector have been developed. The instrument consists of a fast ...double output flasher which can be configured and controlled via USB, the appropriate application software. UV, visible or combination of both LEDs could be installed. Flashes amplitude, repetition rate and delay time between two continuous pulses are adjustable. High -OH silica fibers are used to minimize intensity losses on the delivery path. X shape splitter is used to combine two LED's pigtailed output and then to split the sum of the signals. One output feeds calibration path to the detector, while the second is used for pulse-to-pulse measurement of the flash intensity with compatible photodiode in combination with Flash ADC. The instrument allows to simulate point-like physical events in very wide energy range from a few hundred keV up to several dozen of MeV. Additional studies (pile-up analysis, spatial reconstruction, quenching as a function of position and wavelength) can be performed due to double-LEDs scheme and possibility of fast replacement of diodes.
The 2nd International Conference on Particle Physics and Astrophysics (ICPPA-2016) was held in Moscow, Russia, from October 10 to 14, 2016. The conference is organized by the National Research ...Nuclear University "MEPhI". The aim of the Conference is to promote contacts between scientists and to develop new ideas in fundamental research. We bring together experts and young scientists working on experimental and theoretical aspects of nuclear, particle and astroparticle physics and cosmology. The conference covers a wide range of topics such as accelerator physics, (astro) particle physics, cosmic rays, cosmology and methods of experimental physics: detectors and instruments. These directions are unified by development of the Standard Model which is evidently not complete. There are deviations from the Standard Model: neutrino oscillations, the dark matter existence. Together with strong interactions they are main subjects of the Conference. New results from leading high energy physics collaborations are discussed. Main LHC experiments (ATLAS, CMS, ALICE) presented their results and detector upgrade prospects on the conference. Various aspects of Standard Model testing and search for new phenomena are main subjects of the conference. Among them: flavor physics at B factories, precision multi-boson production measurements, dark matter searches. Electroweak interaction was discussed in the talks given by participants of neutrino physics experiments (Borexino, Neutrino-4, SOX, T2K and others). Enigmatic properties of neutrinos such as their tiny masses, oscillations between different neutrino types, cannot be explained in frame of the modern theory and require new approaches. Properties of neutrinos influenced the formation of the large-scale structure of the Universe and may be neutrinos are partially responsible for the excess of matter over anti-matter. Also our current challenge is the nature of the Dark matter. Many opportunities arise with the development of neutrino detection technologies comprising: measurements of neutrinos from the Sun, measurements of geo-neutrino from the deep interior of the Earth, detecting neutrino fluxes from supernovae and different astrophysical sources. They were the subject of discussion which have been held at the conference. Neutrino physics experiments make huge demands to technologies like ultra-high precision measurements, huge detector size, excellent reliability and ultra-low radioactive background. Acknowledgments We are thankful to Anotonova M M, Buzhan P Zh, Gurov Yu B, Vdovkina S S, Zherebtsova E S, Esipova E A, Kovylyaeva A A, Kozlov E S, Koshelenko D D, Matveev N A, Mayorov A G, Nigmatkulov G A, Novikov A S, Svadkovsky I V, Smirnov Yu S, Voronov S A and Yurin K O for the assistance in organizing the conference and heavy work on proceedings. Conference organizers would like to express their gratitude to the TFT company (supply and maintenance of CAEN equipment, delivery of equipment and components for scientific research) for their support.
We reanalyze data collected with the DarkSide-50 experiment and recently used to set limits on the spin-independent interaction rate of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) on argon nuclei ...with an effective field theory framework. The dataset corresponds to a total (16660 ± 270) kg d exposure using a target of low-radioactivity argon extracted from underground sources. We obtain upper limits on the effective couplings of the 12 leading operators in the nonrelativistic systematic expansion. For each effective coupling we set constraints on WIMP-nucleon cross sections, setting upper limits between 2.4 × 10−45 cm2 and 2.3 × 10−42 cm2 ( 8.9 × 10−45 cm2 and 6.0 × 10−42 cm2 ) for WIMPs of mass of 100 GeV/c2 ( 1000 GeV/c2) at 90% confidence level.
Reactor antineutrino detector iDREAM Gromov, M B; Lukyanchenko, G A; Novikova, G J ...
Journal of physics. Conference series,
09/2017, Letnik:
888, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Industrial Detector for Reactor Antineutrino Monitoring (iDREAM) is a compact (≈ 3.5m2) industrial electron antineutrino spectrometer. It is dedicated for remote monitoring of PWR reactor operational ...modes by neutrino method in real-time. Measurements of antineutrino flux from PWR allow to estimate a fuel mixture in active zone and to check the status of the reactor campaign for non-proliferation purposes. LAB-based gadolinium doped scintillator is exploited as a target. Multizone architecture of the detector with gamma-catcher surrounding fiducial volume and plastic muon veto above and below ensure high efficiency of IBD detection and background suppression. DAQ is based on Flash ADC with PSD discrimination algorithms while digital trigger is programmable and flexible due to FPGA. The prototype detector was started up in 2014. Preliminary works on registration Cerenkov radiation produced by cosmic muons were established with distilled water inside the detector in order to test electronic and slow control systems. Also in parallel a long-term measurements with different scintillator samples were conducted.
This paper describes the design, fabrication, commissioning and use of a CALibration source Insertion System (CALIS) in the DarkSide-50 direct dark matter search experiment. CALIS deploys radioactive ...sources into the liquid scintillator veto to characterize the detector response and detection efficiency of the DarkSide-50 Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber, and the surrounding 30 t organic liquid scintillator neutron veto. It was commissioned in September 2014 and has been used successfully in several gamma and neutron source campaigns since then. A description of the hardware and an excerpt of calibration analysis results are given below.
The DarkSide-50 experiment at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso is a search for dark matter using a dual phase time projection chamber with 50 kg of low radioactivity argon as target. Light ...signals from interactions in the argon are detected by a system of 38 photo-multiplier tubes (PMTs), 19 above and 19 below the TPC volume inside the argon cryostat. We describe the electronics which processes the signals from the photo-multipliers, the trigger system which identifies events of interest, and the data-acquisition system which records the data for further analysis. The electronics include resistive voltage dividers on the PMTs, custom pre-amplifiers mounted directly on the PMT voltage dividers in the liquid argon, and custom amplifier/discriminators (at room temperature). After amplification, the PMT signals are digitized in CAEN waveform digitizers, and CAEN logic modules are used to construct the trigger; the data acquisition system for the TPC is based on the Fermilab artdaq software. The system has been in operation since early 2014.