R&D of LXe Detector Technology for Dark Matter Experiments

该奖项将为研究和开发提供资金，以推进以液态氙（LXe）为目标和探测器介质的直接探测暗物质弱相互作用大质量粒子（wimp）的研究，下一代大体积，两相时间投影室（TPC）。这些类型的探测器已被XENON合作最成功地利用，包括XENON10原型和XENON100探测器。后者是目前在地下运行的最敏感的暗物质实验，目标质量为100公斤。该小组将开发和测试一个两阶段的Xe TPC原型，以验证下一代XENON1T实验的设计。实现多吨LXe探测器的一个关键要求是在至少1 kV/cm的电场下，证明电子在1米长的范围内漂移。与此同时，人们必须证明液体氙的纯度，以允许电离电子在如此大的探测器上漂移。该合作组织设计了一个探测器系统，该系统将能够解决与XENON1T有关的这些问题和其他问题。目标是在一年内取得成果，大部分设备项目也可以用于实际的XENON1T开发。由于XENON科学解决了有关宇宙基本属性的问题，因此该奖项产生了更广泛的影响，所有成分都吸引了学生和公众的兴趣和想象力。这项研究和开发工作将推动LXe探测器和相关技术在粒子天体物理学以外的领域的应用，包括国家安全和医学成像研究。

This award will provide funds for research and development to advance the search for the direct detection of dark matter Weakly Interactive Massive Particles (WIMPs) with liquid xenon (LXe) as target and detector medium in next generation, large volume, two-phase time-projection chambers (TPC). These types of detectors have been most successfully exploited by the XENON collaboration, with the XENON10 prototype and the XENON100 detector. The latter is currently the most sensitive dark matter experiment in operation underground with a target at the 100 kg mass scale. The group will develop and test a two-phase Xe TPC prototype to validate the design of the next generation XENON1T experiment. A key requirement for the realization of multi-ton LXe detectors is the demonstration of electron drift over a meter length, under a field of at least 1 kV/cm. At the same time, one has to demonstrate the liquid xenon purity required to allow ionization electrons to drift across such large detectors. The Collaboration has designed a detector system which will be able to address these and other questions relevant to XENON1T. The goal is to get results within one year, and most of the equipment items could also be used in the actual XENON1T development.The broader impact of this award comes about since the XENON science addresses questions about fundamental properties of the Universe, with all the ingredients to captivate the interest and imagination of students and the general public alike. The research and development work will advance the application of LXe detectors and related technologies in fields beyond particle astrophysics, including national security and medical imaging research.