Detector Optimization for SuperCDMS and Other Experiments.

提案编号：0801712机构：圣克拉拉大学NSF的研究：物理粒子天体物理学的基本探测器：杨，贝蒂A。标题：探测器优化超级CDMS和其他实验。 对星系、超星系团、遥远超新星和宇宙微波背景辐射的观测告诉我们，宇宙中约85%的物质不是由普通粒子组成的，而是以某种黑暗的形式存在。破译这种暗物质的性质对宇宙学、天体物理学和高能粒子物理学具有根本的重要性。一个主要的假设是，它是由弱相互作用大质量粒子（WIMP）组成的，这些粒子是在大爆炸后产生的。如果WIMP是暗物质，那么它们在我们银河系中的存在可以通过地面探测器中原子核的散射来检测。低温暗物质搜索（CDMS）合作开创了使用低温声子介导的探测器来探测核上WIMP的罕见散射并将其与背景区分开来。有了这项强大的技术，在明尼苏达州的Soudan矿的地下深处运行，他们有一个世界领先的努力，预计灵敏度达到100 GeV/c2 WIMP在CDMSII的一个因素的八超过他们最好的出版限制。圣克拉拉大学的这一建议要求基础方案的支持，这将允许（a）完成CDMSII实验，这是完全建设和获取科学数据在苏丹矿，（B）测试和地下操作的CDMSII基础设施在苏丹的两个新的？超级塔？每个探测器由六个下一代探测器组成，以及（c）远程研发的适度努力，以开发和测试新的硬件和探测器，用于可能的后续实验。关于更广泛的影响，技术的发展将推动具有越来越多的应用的声子介导的探测器的信封。此外，SuperCDMS合作将继续支持苏丹的公共外联方案，该方案每年接待数千名游客参观矿山和实验室图尔斯。

PROPOSAL NUMBER: 0801712INSTITUTION: Santa Clara UniversityNSF PROGRAM: PHY - PARTICLE ASTROPHYSICSPRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Young, Betty A.TITLE: Detector Optimization for SuperCDMS and Other Experiments. ABSTRACTObservations of galaxies, superclusters, distant supernovae and the cosmic microwave background radiation tell us that ~85% of the matter in the universe is not made of ordinary particles, but exists in some dark form. Deciphering the nature of this dark matter is of fundamental importance to cosmology, astrophysics, and high-energy particle physics. A leading hypothesis is that it is comprised of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) that were produced moments after the Big Bang. If WIMPs are the dark matter, then their presence in our Milky Way may be detectable via scattering from atomic nuclei in a terrestrial detector. The Cryogenic Dark Matter Search (CDMS) Collaboration has pioneered the use of low-temperature phonon-mediated detectors to detect the rare scattering of WIMPs on nuclei and distinguish them from backgrounds. With this powerful technology, operating deep underground in the Soudan mine in Minnesota, they have a world-leading effort with a projected sensitivity reach for 100 GeV/c2 WIMPs in CDMSII of a factor of eight beyond their best published limit. This proposal from Santa Clara University requests base-program support which will allow for (a) the completion of the CDMSII experiment, which is fully constructed and acquiring science data at the Soudan Mine, (b) the testing and underground operation in the CDMSII infrastructure at Soudan of two new ?SuperTowers,? each comprised of six next-generation detectors, and (c) a modest effort of long-range R&D to develop and test new hardware and detectors for possible follow-up experiments. Concerning Broader Impacts, the technical development will push the envelope of phonon-mediated detectors which have increasing applications. In addition, the SuperCDMS collaboration will continue its support of the public outreach program at Soudan, which hosts thousands of visitors each year for tours of the mine and laboratory.