No Arabic abstract
The combined measurement of dark matter interactions with different superheated liquids has recently been suggested as a cross-correlation technique in identifying WIMP candidates. We describe the fabrication of high concentration superheated droplet detectors based on the light nuclei liquids C3F8, C4F8, C4F10 and CCl2F2, and investigation of their irradiation response with respect to C2ClF5. The results are discussed in terms of the basic physics of superheated liquid response to particle interactions, as well as the necessary detector qualifications for application in dark matter search investigations. The possibility of heavier nuclei SDDs is explored using the light nuclei results as a basis, with CF3I provided as an example.
The simulation of the neutron background for Phase II of the SIMPLE direct dark matter search experiment is fully reported with various improvements relative to previous estimates. The model employs the Monte Carlo MCNP neutron transport code, using as input a realistic geometry description, measured radioassays and material compositions, and tabulated (alpha,n) yields and spectra. Developments include the accounting of recoil energy distributions, consideration of additional reactions and materials and examination of the relevant (alpha,n) data. A thorough analysis of the simulation results is performed that addresses an increased number of non-statistical uncertainties. The referred omissions are seen to provide a net increase of 13$%$ in the previously-reported background estimates whereas the non-statistical uncertainty rises to 25$%$. The final estimated recoil event rate is 0.372 $pm$ 0.002 (stat.) $pm$ 0.097 (non-stat.) evt/kgd resulting in insignificant changes over the results of the experiment.
The PICASSO project is a cold dark matter (CDM) search experiment relying on the superheated droplet technique. The detectors use superheated freon liquid droplets (active material) dispersed and trapped in a polymerized gel. This detection technique is based on the phase transition of superheated droplets at room or moderate temperatures. The phase transitions are induced by nuclear recoils when undergoing interactions with particles, including CDM candidates such as the neutralinos predicted by supersymmetric models. The suitability of the technique for this purpose has been demonstrated by R&D studies performed over several years on detectors of various composition and volume. Simulations performed to understand the detector response to neutrons and alpha particles are presented along with corresponding data obtained at the Montreal Laboratory.
We report new results obtained in calibrations of superheated liquid droplet detectors used in dark matter searches with different radiation sources (n,$alpha$,$gamma$). In particular, detectors were spiked with alpha-emitters located inside and outside the droplets. It is shown that the responses are different, depending on whether alpha particles or recoil nuclei create the signals. The energy thresholds for $alpha$-emitters are compared with test beam measurements using mono-energetic neutrons, as well as with theoretical predictions. Finally a model is presented which describes how the observed intensities of particle induced acoustic signals can be related to the dynamics of bubble growth in superheated liquids. An improved understanding of the bubble dynamics is an important first step in obtaining better discrimination between particle types interacting in detectors of this kind.
The PICASSO collaboration observed for the first time a significant difference between the acoustic signals induced by neutrons and alpha particles in a detector based on superheated liquids. This new discovery offers the possibility of improved background suppression and could be especially useful for dark matter experiments. This new effect may be attributed to the formation of multiple bubbles on alpha tracks, compared to single nucleations created by neutron induced recoils.
Large, high-purity, germanium (HPGe) detectors are needed for neutrinoless double-beta decay and dark matter experiments. Currently, large (> 4 inches in diameter) HPGe crystals can be grown at the University of South Dakota (USD). We verify that the quality of the grown crystals is sufficient for use in large detectors by fabricating and characterizing smaller HPGe detectors made from those crystals. We report the results from eight detectors fabricated over six months using crystals grown at USD. Amorphous germanium (a-Ge) contacts are used for blocking both electrons and holes. Two types of geometry were used to fabricate HPGe detectors. As a result, the fabrication process of small planar detectors at USD is discussed in great detail. The impact of the procedure and geometry on the detector performance was analyzed for eight detectors. We characterized the detectors by measuring the leakage current, capacitance, and energy resolution at 662 keV with a Cs-137 source. Four detectors show good performance, which indicates that crystals grown at USD are suitable for making HPGe detectors.