Directional detection is a promising Dark Matter search strategy. Indeed, WIMP-induced recoils present a direction dependence toward the Cygnus constellation, while background-induced recoils exhibit an isotropic distribution in the galactic rest fra
me. Taking advantage on these characteristic features and even in the presence of a sizeable background, we show for the first time the possibility to constrain the WIMP properties, both from particle and galactic halo physics, leading to an identification of non-baryonic Dark Matter. However, such results need highly accurate track reconstruction which should be reachable by the MIMAC detector using a dedicated readout combined with a likelihood analysis of recoiling nuclei.
Directional detection of non-baryonic Dark Matter is a promising search strategy for discriminating genuine WIMP events from background ones. However, carrying out such a strategy requires both a precise measurement of the energy down to a few keV an
d 3D reconstruction of tracks down to a few mm. To achieve this goal, the MIMAC project has been developed: it is based on a gaseous micro-TPC matrix, filled with 3He, CF4 and/or C4H10. Firsts results of low energy nuclei recoils obtained with a low energy neutron field are presented.
Directional detection of galactic Dark Matter requires 3D reconstruction of low energy nuclear recoils tracks. A dedicated acquisition electronics with auto triggering feature and a real time track reconstruction software have been developed within t
he framework of the MIMAC project of detector. This auto-triggered acquisition electronic uses embedded processing to reduce data transfer to its useful part only, i.e. decoded coordinates of hit tracks and corresponding energy measurements. An acquisition software with on-line monitoring and 3D track reconstruction is also presented.
We have developed a micro-tpc using a pixelized bulk micromegas coupled to dedicated acquisition electronics as a read-out allowing to reconstruct the three dimensional track of a few keV recoils. The prototype has been tested with the Amande facilit
y at the IRSN-Cadarache providing monochromatic neutrons. The first results concerning discrimination of a few keV electrons and proton recoils are presented.
MiMac is a project of micro-TPC matrix of gaseous (He3, CF4) chambers for direct detection of non-baryonic dark matter. Measurement of both track and ionization energy will allow the electron-recoil discrimination, while access to the directionnality
of the tracks will open a unique way to distinguish a geniune WIMP signal from any background. First reconstructed tracks of 5.9 keV electrons are presented as a proof of concept.
The MIMAC project is a multi-chamber detector for Dark Matter search, aiming at measuring both track and ionization with a matrix of micromegas micro-TPC filled with He3 and CF4. Recent experimental results on the first measurements of the Helium que
nching factor at low energy (1 keV recoil) are presented, together with the first simulation of the track reconstruction. Recontruction of track of alpha from Radon impurities is shown as a first proof of concept.
The measurement of the ionization produced by particles in a medium presents a great interest in several fields from metrology to particule physics and cosmology. The ionization quenching factor is defined as the fraction of energy released by ionisa
tion by a recoil in a medium compared with its kinetic energy. At low energy, in the range of a few keV, the ionization falls rapidly and systematic measurement are needed. We have developped an experimental setup devoted to the measurement of low energy (keV) ionization quenching factor for the MIMAC project. The ionization produced in the gas has been measured with a Micromegas detector filled with Helium gas mixture.