RUI: DRIFT-II - Next Generation Dark Matter Search Using a Negative Ion TPC

这个提议来自西方学院的一个小组，他们请求资助来研究21世纪最重要的问题之一：什么是暗物质？一个自然的解释是大爆炸遗留下来的大质量弱相互作用粒子（wimp）。为了通过产生~keV/amu反冲核的探测器内部相互作用直接探测wimp， pi发明了负离子时间投影室（NITPC），并建造了第一代装置——轨道定向反冲识别探测器（DRIFT-I），其有效体积为1 m3，有效质量为167 g。DRIFT-I目前正在英格兰东北部的Boulby矿采集数据。现在的计划是建造一个放大的，大大改进的NITPC，称为DRIFT-II，作为一个完全模块化的探测器，可以放大到约100公斤的有效质量。该技术采用低压、电负性气体（CS2）靶，对中子反冲方向敏感。在教育/外展领域，DRIFT探测器技术在国土安全领域和下一代线性对撞机（Next Linear Collider）的跟踪方面有着广阔的应用前景。该项目已经将来自弱势群体的人们带入了前沿研究。

This proposal is from a group at Occidental College and requests funding to investigate one of the most important questions of the 21st century: What is the Dark Matter? A natural explanation is a population of relic Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) left over from the Big Bang. To directly detect WIMPs by their interaction inside a detector yielding a ~keV/amu recoil nucleus, the PIs have invented the Negative Ion Time Projection Chamber (NITPC) and have built a first generation device, the Directional Recoil Identification From Tracks detector (DRIFT-I) with an active volume of 1 m3 and an active mass of 167 g. DRIFT-I is currently taking data at the Boulby mine in Northeast England. The plan now is to build a scaled-up, much improved NITPC, called DRIFT-II, as a fully modular detector which could be scaled-up to ~100 kg active mass. The technique uses a low pressure, electronegative gas (CS2) target and is sensitive to the direction of neutron recoils.In the education/outreach area, the DRIFT detector technology has promising applications to Homeland Security and for tracking at the Next Linear Collider. The project has already brought people from underrepresented groups into cutting edge research.