Detector Optimization for the SuperCDMS Experiment

SuperCDMS 实验的探测器优化

• 批准号: 0503629
• 负责人: Betty Young
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Santa Clara University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2005
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2005-11-01 至 2008-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0503629&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Detector; Optimization; SuperCDMS; Experiment

Results from several observational astronomy experiments show that about 85% of the matter in the universe is not made of ordinary particles. Deciphering the nature of this dark matter would be of fundamental importance to cosmology, astrophysics, high-energy particle physics, and our understanding of gravity. A leading hypothesis is that dark matter is comprised of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles, or WIMPs, an elementary particle beyond the Standard Model of particle physics, but predicted in various extensions including Supersymmetry. The Cryogenic Dark Matter Search (CDMS) Collaboration, supported jointly by NSF and DOE, has pioneered the use of low temperature phonon-mediated detectors based on superconducting thin-film sensors to distinguish the rare scattering of such WIMPs on nuclei from other background events. Using our powerful technology in the Soudan mine, CDMS is currently (July 05) the most sensitive WIMP search experiment in the world, by a factor of ten. The two years of funding provided by this NSF award will help support the Santa Clara University (SCU) group continue its active participation in the operation of the CDMS experiment at Soudan. The funding will also partially support the group's continued work on superconducting sensor technologies for cryogenic detector applications. This work includes physics and technology-focused investigations of superconducting aluminum alloy sensors (potentially of interest for SuperCDMS and other experiments), as well as continued work with CDMS collaborators on feasible extensions of the current tungsten-based technology to larger substrates for SuperCDMS. The SCU group will continue to be responsible for using existing, fast turn-around, dilution-refrigerator facilities at Stanford University to provide the CDMS collaboration with rapid characterization of superconducting films. Evaluations of future sensor technologies based on both physics reach and promise for enhanced device fabrication yields will be ongoing throughout this two year funding period.The SCU group includes the P.I. and typically two undergraduates. The group benefits tremendously from its strong ties to groups at nearby institutions, particularly Stanford and UC Berkeley. CDMS collaborators at these institutions generously provide the SCU group access to their extensive cryogenic and device fabrication facilities and their support has allowed the SCU group to perform a variety of physics experiments related to CDMS and beyond, that otherwise would have been cost-prohibitive for the SCU group alone.

几个观测天文学实验的结果表明，宇宙中约85%的物质不是由普通粒子组成的。破译这种暗物质的性质对于宇宙学、天体物理学、高能粒子物理学和我们对引力的理解都是至关重要的。一个主要的假设是，暗物质是由弱相互作用的大质量粒子或WIMP组成的，WIMP是一种超出粒子物理标准模型的基本粒子，但在包括超对称性在内的各种扩展中被预测。在美国国家科学基金会和能源部的共同支持下，低温暗物质搜索(CDMS)合作率先使用了基于超导薄膜传感器的低温声子中介探测器，以区分此类WIMP在原子核上的罕见散射与其他背景事件。使用我们在苏丹矿的强大技术，CDMS是目前(7月5日)世界上最敏感的WIMP搜索实验，是十倍。这一NSF奖项提供的两年资金将有助于支持圣克拉拉大学(SCU)小组继续积极参与苏丹CDMS实验的运作。这笔资金还将部分支持该小组在用于低温探测器应用的超导传感器技术方面的继续工作。这项工作包括对超导铝合金传感器的物理和技术重点研究(可能对SuperCDMS和其他实验感兴趣)，以及继续与CDMS的合作者合作，将当前基于钨的技术可行地扩展到SuperCDMS的更大衬底。SCU小组将继续负责使用斯坦福大学现有的快速周转稀释制冷机设施，为CDMS合作提供超导薄膜的快速表征。对未来传感器技术的评估将基于物理范围和提高器件制造产量的承诺，在这两年的资助期内将持续进行。SCU小组包括P.I.和通常的两名本科生。该集团从与附近机构的紧密联系中受益匪浅，尤其是斯坦福大学和加州大学伯克利分校。这些机构的CDMS合作者慷慨地向SCU小组提供对其广泛的低温和设备制造设施的访问，他们的支持使SCU小组能够执行与CDMS相关的各种物理实验以及其他实验，否则这些实验对SCU小组来说是成本高昂的。