Organic Semiconductor Neutron Detectors for Dark Matter

用于暗物质的有机半导体中子探测器

• 批准号: ST/T002212/1
• 负责人: Adrian Bevan
• 金额: $ 17.75万
• 依托单位: Queen Mary University of London
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2020 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=ST%2FT002212%2F1
• 关键词: Organic; Semiconductor; Neutron; Detectors; Dark

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).

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，既在SiPM传感器读出电子设备附近的低温区域，也来自实验洞穴的环境。冷操作或热操作的固体中子探测器可以帮助减少背景，进而提高粒子暗物质直接探测搜索的物理灵敏度。在本提案中，我们建立在我们以前的工作与有机半导体（OSCs）辐射检测，制作原型大面积多通道OSC位置敏感中子探测器。这项仪器开发工作的目的是评估在未来的暗物质实验中使用该技术作为中子否决系统的一部分的潜力。我们提出了一种制造和测试热中子探测器的方案，其有效面积可达10平方厘米。这将提供一个基础单位去考虑为《DarkSide》等实验创造更大区域否决权的可行性。我们的项目有风险登记册和甘特图（可根据要求提供，未提交，因为本次通话未要求该信息）。