Organic Semiconductor Neutron Detectors for Dark Matter

在意大利的Darkside等实验中，未来暗物质搜索的物理潜力将受到识别和否决热中子的能力的限制。在实验装置中有几个中子源，既有读出SiPM传感器的电子器件附近的低温区域，也有实验洞穴环境中的中子源。冷操作或温操作固态中子探测器可以帮助降低背景，进而提高粒子暗物质直接探测搜索的物理灵敏度。在这项提议中，我们通过制作大面积多通道有机半导体(OSC)位置灵敏中子探测器的原型，建立了我们以前利用有机半导体(OSC)进行辐射探测的工作。这项仪器开发工作的目的是评估这项技术在未来的暗物质实验中用于部分中子否决系统的潜力。我们提出了一项建议，即制造和测试一个有效面积高达10平方厘米的演示热中子探测器。这将为考虑对像DarkSide这样的实验进行更大范围的否决的可行性提供一个基本单位。我们的项目有一个风险登记簿和甘特图(根据要求提供，不提交，因为这次通话没有要求提供这些信息)。

The physics potential of future dark matter searches at experiments such as DarkSide in Italy will be limited by the ability to identify and veto thermal neutrons. There are several sources of neutrons in the experimental setup, both in the cryogenic regions in the vicinity of the electronics reading out the SiPM sensors, and from the environment of the experimental cavern. Cold or warm operation solid state neutron detectors could help to reduce the backgrounds, and in turn increase the physics sensitivity for particle dark matter direct detection searches. In this proposal we build on our previous work with organic semiconductors (OSCs) for radiation detection by making prototype large area multi-channel OSC position sensitive neutron detectors. The purpose of this instrument development work is to evaluate the potential for using this technology in a future Dark Matter experiment for part of a neutron veto system.We present a proposal to make and test a demonstrator thermal neutron detector with active area up to 10 square centimetres. This would provide a base-unit to consider the feasibility of making a larger area veto for experiments like DarkSide.Our project has a risk register and Gantt chart (available on request, not submitted as that information was not requested for this call).