Collaborative Research: Continuation of the XENON Dark Matter Search at LNGS

多个天文观测已经确定，宇宙中大约85%的物质不是由已知粒子组成的。破译这种所谓的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，对我们的宇宙观具有深远的影响。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，那么它们在银河系中的存在可能是通过位于地下深处的探测器中的原子核散射来检测的，以帮助排除宇宙射线造成的背景。暗物质（DM）的识别提出了一个挑战，正在通过各种互补的方法和技术来解决。直接搜索DM与XENON项目在格兰萨索实验室承诺一个极具成本效益的方法，以涵盖广大地区的预期DM参数空间。该奖项将使美国XENON集团能够参与XENON100的运营和数据分析，直到2015年，预计XENON1T的科学计划将开始。凭借在Gran Sasso的强大影响力，美国集团将在XENON1T的调试和运营中发挥主导作用。更广泛的影响：许多学生和博士后研究人员参与了美国各地大学的XENON项目。他们接触到基础物理学和宇宙学的各种主题，并接受开发和应用最先进技术的培训，使他们成为该领域未来的领导者。XENON中使用的仪器和技术与广泛的应用相关，从国土安全和医学成像领域到大型数据集的分析和统计处理。

Multiple astronomical observations have established that about 85% of the matter in the universe is not made of known particles. Deciphering the nature of this so-called Dark Matter is of fundamental importance to cosmology, astrophysics, and high-energy particle physics with profound implications for our view of the Universe. A leading hypothesis is that it is comprised of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles, or WIMPs, that were produced moments after the Big Bang. If WIMPs are the dark matter, then their presence in our galaxy may be detectable via scattering from atomic nuclei in detectors located deep underground to help reject backgrounds due to cosmic rays.The identification of Dark Matter (DM) poses a challenge that is being addressed with a variety of complementary approaches and technologies. The direct search for DM with the XENON project at the Gran Sasso laboratory promises an extremely cost-efficient approach to cover vast regions of expected DM parameter space. This award will enable the US groups in XENON to participate in the operations and data analysis of XENON100 well into 2015 when the start of the scientific program with XENON1T is expected. With a strong presence at Gran Sasso, the US groups will maintain a leading role in the commissioning and operation of XENON1T. Broader Impacts:A number of students as well as post-doctoral researchers are involved in the XENON project at universities across the US. They are exposed to a variety of subjects in fundamental physics and cosmology, and trained in the development and application of state-of-the-art technologies, preparing them to become future leaders in the field. The instrumentation and techniques used in XENON are relevant to a wide range of applications, from areas in homeland security and medical imaging, to the analysis and statistical treatment of large data sets.