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

这项提案来自西方学院的一个小组，要求资助调查21世纪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一群残余的弱相互作用大质量粒子（WIMP）。为了直接探测WIMP，通过它们在探测器内的相互作用产生~keV/amu的反冲核，PI发明了负离子时间投影室（NITPC），并建造了第一代设备，定向反冲轨道识别探测器（DRIFT-I），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博尔比矿采集数据。现在的计划是建造一个按比例放大的、大大改进的NITPC，称为DRIFT-II，作为一个完全模块化的探测器，可以按比例放大到100公斤有效质量。该技术使用低压，电负性气体（CS2）的目标，是敏感的中子反冲的方向。在教育/推广领域，DRIFT探测器技术有前途的应用，国土安全和跟踪在下一个线性对撞机。 该项目已经将来自代表性不足群体的人带入了前沿研究。

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.