Neutron background signal in superheated droplet detectors of the Phase II SIMPLE dark matter search

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 SIMPLE Phase II Dark Matter Search

Phase II of SIMPLE (Superheated Instrument for Massive ParticLe Experiments) searched for astroparticle dark matter using superheated liquid C$_{2}$ClF$_{5}$ droplet detectors. Each droplet generally requires an energy deposition with linear energy transfer (LET) $gtrsim$ 150 keV/$mu$m for a liquid-to-gas phase transition, providing an intrinsic rejection against minimum ionizing particles of order 10$^{-10}$, and reducing the backgrounds to primarily $alpha$ and neutron-induced recoil events. The droplet phase transition generates a millimetric-sized gas bubble which is recorded by acoustic means. We describe the SIMPLE detectors, their acoustic instrumentation, and the characterizations, signal analysis and data selection which yield a particle-induced, true nucleation event detection efficiency of better than 97% at a 95% C.L. The recoil-$alpha$ event discrimination, determined using detectors first irradiated with neutrons and then doped with alpha emitters, provides a recoil identification of better than 99%; it differs from those of COUPP and PICASSO primarily as a result of their different liquids with lower critical LETs. The science measurements, comprising two shielded arrays of fifteen detectors each and a total exposure of 27.77 kgd, are detailed. Removal of the 1.94 kgd Stage 1 installation period data, which had previously been mistakenly included in the data, reduces the science exposure from 20.18 to 18.24 kgd and provides new contour minima of $sigma_{p}$ = 4.3 $times$ 10$^{-3}$ pb at 35 GeV/c$^{2}$ in the spin-dependent sector of WIMP-proton interactions and $sigma_{N}$ = 3.6 $times$ 10$^{-6}$ pb at 35 GeV/c$^{2}$ in the spin-independent sector. These results are examined with respect to the fluorine spin and halo parameters used in the previous data analysis.

Fabrication and Response of High Concentration SIMPLE Superheated Droplet Detectors with Different Liquids

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.

Final Analysis and Results of the Phase II SIMPLE Dark Matter Search

We report the final results of the Phase II SIMPLE measurements, comprising two run stages of 15 superheated droplet detectors each, the second stage including an improved neutron shielding. The analyses includes a refined signal analysis, and revised nucleation efficiency based on reanalysis of previously-reported monochromatic neutron irradiations. The combined results yield a contour minimum of sigma_{p} = 4.2 x 10^-3 pb at 35 GeV/c^2 on the spin-dependent sector of WIMP-proton interactions, the most restrictive to date from a direct search experiment and overlapping for the first time results previously obtained only indirectly. In the spin-independent sector, a minimum of 3.6 x 10^-6 pb at 35 GeV/c^2 is achieved, with the exclusion contour challenging the recent CoGeNT region of current interest.

New limits on WIMP interactions from the SIMPLE dark matter search

The SIMPLE project uses superheated C2ClF5 liquid detectors to search for particle dark matter candidates. We report the results of the first stage exposure (14.1 kgd) of its latest two-stage, Phase II run, with 15 superheated droplet detectors of total active mass 0.208 kg. In combination with the results of the neutron-spin sensitive XENON10 experiment, these results yield a limit of |a_p| < 0.32, |a_n| < 0.17 for M_W = 50 GeV/c2 on the model-independent, spin-dependent sector of weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP)-nucleus interactions, and together yield a 50% reduction in the previously allowed region of the phase space. The result provides a contour minimum of {sigma}_p ~ 2.8 x 10-2 pb at M_W = 45 GeV/c2, constituting the most restrictive direct detection limit to date against a spin-dependent WIMP-proton coupling. In the spin-independent sector, the result is seen to offer the prospect of contributing to the question of light mass WIMPs with an improvement in the current understanding of its nucleation efficiency.

First Results of the Phase II SIMPLE Dark Matter Search

We report results of a 14.1 kgd measurement with 15 superheated droplet detectors of total active mass 0.208 kg, comprising the first stage of a 30 kgd Phase II experiment. In combination with the results of the neutron-spin sensitive XENON10 experiment, these results yield a limit of |a_p| < 0.32 for M_W = 50 GeV/c2 on the spin-dependent sector of weakly interacting massive particle-nucleus interactions with a 50% reduction in the previously allowed region of the phase space formerly defined by XENON, KIMS and PICASSO. In the spin-independent sector, a limit of 2.3x10-5 pb at M_W = 45 GeV/c2 is obtained.

A CF3I-based SDD Prototype for Spin-independent Dark Matter Searches

The application of Superheated Droplet Detectors (SDDs) to dark matter searches has so far been confined to the light nuclei refrigerants C2ClF5 and C4F10 (SIMPLE and PICASSO, respectively), with a principle sensitivity to spin-dependent interactions. Given the competitive results of these devices, as a result of their intrinsic insensitivity to backgrounds, we have developed a prototype trifluoroiodomethane (CF3I)-loaded SDD with increased sensitivity to spin-independent interactions as well. A low (0.102 kgd) exposure test operation of two high concentration, 1 liter devices is described, and the results compared with leading experiments in both spin-dependent and -independent sectors. Although competitive in both sectors when the difference in exposures is accounted for, a problem with fracturing of the detector gel must be addressed before significantly larger exposures can be envisioned.