CAREER: Development of a New Generation of Gas-based Detectors for the Directionality Signature from Dark Matter

在这个精确宇宙学的时代，测量表明，普通物质（质子和中子）仅占宇宙总物质密度的15%。 其余的部分，我们只能看到引力的影响，似乎是黑暗的。 探测和识别暗物质的目标被广泛认为是21世纪宇宙学中最重要的问题之一。目前的粒子物理模型认为暗物质可能是大爆炸后遗留下来的弱相互作用大质量粒子（WIMP）。 直接探测WIMP的努力受到小的相互作用概率和模拟预期暗物质信号的大背景的阻碍。 幸运的是，存在许多独特的暗物质特征，如果加以利用，可以用来区分背景。 这些都是基于太阳-地球系统在星系中移动时WIMP通量的预测行为。 这些特征中最大和最强大的是实验室框架中核反冲方向的昼夜调制。 在目前对暗物质的实验性搜索中，只有一个，从轨迹中识别方向反冲（DRIFT），可以检测到这种方向性特征。 该提案的主要目的是为未来的方向敏感暗物质探测器实验研究新的探测器。 这些研究将集中在提高DRIFT的测量方向性的灵敏度，充分利用晕WIMP的方向性签名，同时保持DRIFT的良好的背景抑制能力，固有的低维护性，和低成本的单位质量。 这项研究的目标是通过测量新技术在实验室中的表现来量化它们的优点和缺点，并评估在未来大质量定向暗物质实验中使用这些新技术的可行性。这项工作的更广泛影响包括本科生和研究生的培训（包括代表性不足的少数民族）。 此外，还将为初中和高中教师的专业发展制定一个有针对性的外联方案。 作为该计划的一部分，每年将提供为期1天的研讨会，然后是为期2周的强化课程，并获得硕士学位。在教育领域，面向新墨西哥州的教师。 这将与北极星天文中心和西南科学教育研究所合作并得到其支持。

In this era of precision cosmology, measurements suggest that ordinary matter (protons and neutrons) makes up a mere 15% of the total matter density in the Universe. The rest, whose effect we can only see gravitationally, appears to be dark. The goal of detecting and identifying dark matter is widely recognized as one of the most important problems in 21st century cosmology. Current particle physics models suggest that dark matter might be weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) left over from the Big Bang. Efforts to directly detect WIMPs are hampered by small interaction probabilities and large backgrounds which mimic expected dark matter signals. Fortunately, a number of unique dark matter signatures exist which, if exploited, can be used to discriminate against backgrounds. These are based on the predicted behavior of the WIMP flux as the Sun-Earth system moves through the galaxy. The largest and most robust of these signatures is a day-night modulation of nuclear recoil directions in the lab frame. Of current experimental searches for dark matter only one, Directional Recoil Identification From Tracks (DRIFT), is equipped to detect this directionality signature. The main subject of this proposal is to experimentally study novel detectors for future directionally sensitive dark matter detectors. These studies will focus on improving DRIFT's sensitivity for measuring directionality by taking full advantage of the directional signature from halo WIMPs while maintaining DRIFT's good background rejection capabilities, intrinsic low-maintainability, and low cost per unit mass. The goals of this research are to quantify the advantages and disadvantages of the new technologies by measuring their performance in the laboratory, and to assess the feasibility of employing these new technologies in future, large mass directional dark matter experiments.Broader impacts of this work include the training of undergraduate and graduate students (including underrepresented minorities). Additionally, a targeted Outreach Program for the professional development of middle- and high-school teachers will be developed. As part of this program, each year a 1-day workshop will be offered, followed by a 2-week intensive course, with graduate credit towards a M.A. in Education, for teachers across New Mexico. This will take place in collaboration with and support from the Lodestar Astronomy Center and the Science Education Institute of the Southwest.