Collaborative Research: NSF-BSF: Continuation of the XENON Program at LNGS

确定暗物质的性质仍然是当今物理学中最紧迫的问题之一。直接搜索暗物质粒子的XENON系列实验使用液体氙时间投影室（LXeTPC）的增加目标质量和减少背景导致了最严格的限制在许多不同的暗物质候选人，在广泛的质量，耦合类型，横截面和粒子类型。在第一个多吨级LXeTPC XENON 1 T成功的基础上，此次合作通过构建一个新的LXeTPC XENONnT，扩大了该技术的科学范围，该LXeTPC具有更大的目标质量和更低的固有背景，但可重复使用基础设施和已经测试过的系统。液体氙探测器技术是本科生和研究生以及博士后科学家的独特培训基地，因为它们将重要硬件参与与高级数据分析技能相结合。技术涵盖从复杂的探测器设计到网络基础设施和创新的数据分析，并应用于医学成像和核不扩散等其他领域。整个项目采用开放数据政策，以促进其他研究和教育领域的利益。参与小组通过有针对性的讲座和外展活动促进和鼓励公众对科学的兴趣，特别关注支持代表性不足和服务不足的群体。XENONnT实验具有多吨基准质量和超低背景，将达到对各种暗物质模型的灵敏度，超过现有知识的一个数量级。XENONnT将对各种相互作用敏感，包括自旋无关，自旋相关和其他耦合;对各种粒子敏感，包括WIMP，类轴子粒子，太阳轴子和暗光子;同时，XENONnT将覆盖从千电子伏到普朗克质量的粒子质量。它也将是其他非常有趣的物理学的观测站。中微子物理学中的例子包括通过pp中微子测量太阳中微子光度和通过硼-8中微子首次测量太阳金属丰度。该探测器还可能观测银河系超新星的中微子，并可能向望远镜发出早期多信使警报。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Identifying the nature of dark matter remains one of the most pressing problems in physics today. The direct search for dark matter particles with the XENON family of experiments using liquid xenon time projection chambers (LXeTPCs) of increasing target mass and decreasing background has led to the most stringent constraints on many different dark matter candidates, over a broad range of mass, type of coupling, cross-section, and particle type. Building on the success of the first multi-tonne LXeTPC, XENON1T, this collaboration has expanded the scientific reach of this technology by building a new LXeTPC, XENONnT, of larger target mass and with lower intrinsic background but re-using infrastructure and already tested systems.Liquid xenon detector technologies are unique training grounds for undergraduate and graduate students, and postdoctoral scientists, in that they combine significant hardware involvement with advanced data analysis skills. Technologies span from sophisticated detector design to cyber-infrastructure and innovative data analysis, with applications in other fields such as medical imaging and nuclear nonproliferation. The entire project employs an open data policy to foster benefits in other areas of research and education. the participating groups facilitate and encourage public interest in science through targeted talks and outreach activities with particular focus to support members of underrepresented and underserved groups.The XENONnT experiment, with its multi-tonnes fiducial mass and ultra-low background will reach a sensitivity to various dark matter models more than an order of magnitude beyond current knowledge. XENONnT will be sensitive to a variety of interactions, including spin-independent, spin-dependent, and other couplings; to a variety of particles, including WIMPs, axion-like particles, solar axions and dark photons; and at the same time, XENONnT will cover particle masses ranging from kilo-electronvolts almost up to the Planck mass. It will also be an observatory for other highly interesting physics. Examples in neutrino physics include a measurement of the Solar neutrino luminosity through pp neutrinos and a first measurement of the Solar metallicity through boron-8 neutrinos. The detector might also observe neutrinos from a Galactic supernova and potentially issue early multi-messenger alerts to telescopes.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.