Search for Dark Matter with XENON100

有充分的证据表明，宇宙中的大量物质是由一种未知的物质组成的，这种物质被称为暗物质。然而，它的性质在很大程度上是未知的，并对当代物理学构成了重大挑战。在意大利Gran Sasso的地下实验室工作的XENON100合作小组正在进行目前最敏感的实验，以搜索暗物质。再加上探测器的大体积和大质量，低本底使研究暗物质的性质成为可能，这是任何其他运行中的探测器都不可能做到的。该奖项为利用XENON100探测器的数据提供的独特机会提供了基础支持，以搜索预期来自非传统暗物质粒子模型的特征。这些数据将在原始分析中进行研究，以获得对暗物质本质的新见解。将对低质量的暗物质粒子进行两次不同的专门搜索。将对非弹性暗物质或磁性非弹性暗物质等模型预测的信号进行创新搜索。广泛影响：PI将继续借鉴他参与天文馆和其他外展活动的经验，以激发公众的想象力和好奇心。将利用报纸文章和其他多样化的科普传播渠道来传播研究成果。本科生和研究生以及博士后研究员将接受现代天体粒子物理学前沿研究方面的教育和培训。

There is ample evidence that large amounts of matter in the Universe are made from an unknown kind, called Dark Matter. Yet, its properties are largely unknown and pose a major challenge for contemporary physics. The XENON100 collaboration, working at the underground laboratory at Gran Sasso, Italy, runs the currently most sensitive experiment to search for Dark Matter. Together with the large volume and mass of the detector, the low background enables studies of the nature of Dark Matter that are not possible with any other operating detector.This award provides base support to work on the unique opportunities that data from the XENON100 detector provide to search for signatures that are expected from unconventional models of Dark Matter particles. The data will be studied in original analyses to gain new insights into the nature of Dark Matter. Two different and dedicated searches will be performed for Dark Matter particles with low masses. Innovative searches for signals that are predicted by models such as inelastic Dark Matter or magnetic inelastic Dark Matter will be carried out.Broader impacts: the PI will continue to build on previous experience from his involvement in a planetarium and other outreach activities in order to stimulate the imagination and curiosity of the public. Newspaper articles and other channels of diverse popular science communication will be utilized to disseminate results from the research. Undergraduate and graduate students as well as a postdoctoral researcher will be educated and trained in research at the cutting edge of modern astroparticle physics.