LUX Operations at the Sanford Underground Research Facility

观测表明，宇宙中80%的物质不是由正常原子组成的，而是不发射或吸收光的未被检测到的基本“暗物质”粒子。值得注意的是，由于其他原因而提出的粒子物理学理论预测了弱相互作用大质量粒子（WIMP）的存在，这些粒子的性质恰好是这种暗物质。如果WIMP是暗物质，那么当它们在地球上的探测器中散射时，它们可能是可以探测到的。对WIMP暗物质的直接探测将解决粒子物理学和宇宙学中的一个基本谜团，为了解宇宙的主要物质组成和粒子物理学标准模型之外的物理学提供了一个独特的窗口。大型地下氙实验（LUX）是一个两相（液体/气体）氙（LPEX）实验，旨在研究暗物质与普通物质的相互作用，LPEX相关技术的发展将在世界范围内越来越多的使用稀有液体作为探测材料的实验中得到应用。这些项目还将为研究生和本科生提供辐射探测、低温学和气体净化方面的技术培训。LIGHTE在天体物理学、国土安全和医学成像的伽马射线成像中有实际应用。有频繁的图尔斯参观该设施和介绍的地下实验，该地区的学校和大学班级，他们保持强有力的推广工作，该地区的美国印第安学院和部落councills.Located在桑福德地下研究设施（SURF）铅，南达科他州，LUX有一个基准质量约100公斤，并承诺大大提高灵敏度的WIMP模型。从它的操作到目前为止，LUX在世界上对WIMP质量超过6 GeV的自旋独立暗物质相互作用最敏感的极限。该合同为2015年3月至2016年12月期间的LUX持续运营提供支持，随后退役。预计LUX在2016年年中的持续运行将大大提高灵敏度，在高WIMP质量下，灵敏度将比现有极限提高5倍。

Observations indicate that 80% of the matter in the Universe is not made of normal atoms, but must be otherwise undetected elementary "dark matter" particles that do not emit or absorb light. Remarkably, particle physics theories proposed for other reasons predict the existence of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) with just the right properties to be this dark matter. If WIMPs are the dark matter, they may be detectable when they scatter in Earth-based detectors. Direct detection of WIMP dark matter would solve a fundamental mystery in particle physics and cosmology, providing a unique window to learning about the primary matter constituent of the Universe and of physics beyond the Standard Model of particle physics. The Large Underground Xenon experiment (LUX) is a two-phase (liquid/gas) xenon (LXe) experiment designed for the search for dark matter interactions with ordinary matter.Development of technology related to LXe will find use in the increasing number of experiments worldwide using noble liquids as detection materials. These projects will also result in technical training in radiation detection, cryogenics, and gas purification for graduate and undergraduate students. LXe has practical applications to gamma ray imaging for astrophysics, Homeland Security, and medical imaging. There are frequent tours of the facility and presentations on the underground experiments for the region's schools and college classes, and they maintain strong outreach efforts to the region's American Indian Colleges and Tribal Councils.Located in the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in Lead, South Dakota, LUX has a fiducial mass of about 100 kg and promises substantially improved sensitivity to the WIMP model. From its operations to date, LUX has the most sensitive limit in the world for spin-independent dark matter interactions for WIMP masses above 6 GeV. This award provides support for continued LUX operations, followed by decommissioning, over the period of March 2015 through December 2016. Continued LUX operation through mid-2016 is expected to result in considerably improved sensitivity, reaching a factor of five in improvement over existing limits at high WIMP masses.