Organic Semiconductor Neutron Detectors for Dark Matter

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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).