DAMIC-100: Low-Mass Dark Matter Particles Detection with CCDs

有强有力的宇宙学和天体物理学证据表明，非重子的冷暗物质是宇宙的主要组成部分。暗物质的性质，迄今为止难以捉摸，构成了科学中最基本的问题之一。它作为一种未知粒子的发现将对我们理解宇宙产生深远的影响，并为粒子物理学和宇宙学开辟新的方向。对暗物质的一个令人信服的解释是迄今为止未知的弱相互作用大质量粒子（WIMPs）的存在，世界范围内的实验努力正在测试这一假设。这个项目就是这一努力的一部分。沉浸式的研究经验与专注于代表性不足的群体的计划合作开发，将提高在研究生和本科层次的多样性。与阿德勒天文馆和芝加哥艺术学院（SAIC）的创新合作伙伴关系将把暗物质科学带给广泛而多样化的观众。通过DAMIC科学家的参与以及粒子相互作用的可视化与电荷耦合器件（CCD）的集成，阿德勒天文馆的游客体验（每年450，000名游客）将得到加强。与SAIC合作，一个先进的STEAM（科学、技术、工程、艺术和数学）项目将通过探索软件和建模工具来展示当前的科学数据，从而激励艺术学生以及经验丰富的专业人士（例如设计师）。CCD中的暗物质（DAMIC）实验使用科学级硅CCD搜索低质量WIMP。利用这种新技术，WIMP诱导的信号被检测到具有前所未有的低能量阈值和独特的空间分辨率。DAMIC-100将于2015年安装在加拿大萨德伯里的SNOLAB地下实验室，其有效探测器质量为100克。该奖项为美国的参与提供支持。芝加哥组呼叫DAMIC-100他们在DAMIC研发阶段和100 g探测器的建造中发挥了重要作用。该小组将在CCD的测试和校准、实验的安装和调试以及数据分析方面承担重要责任。此外，还将在美国国家实验室进行核反冲能标度的校准。带着中子源的芝加哥。

There is strong cosmological and astrophysical evidence for non-baryonic, cold dark matter as a major constituent of the universe. The nature of Dark Matter, so far elusive, constitutes one of the most fundamental questions in science. Its discovery as a yet unknown particle would have profound implications in our understanding of the universe, and open new directions in particle physics and cosmology. A compelling explanation for what might constitute dark matter is the existence of hitherto unknown Weakly-interacting massive particles (WIMPs), and a world-wide experimental effort is on-going to test this hypothesis. This project is part of that effort. Immersive research experiences developed in collaboration with programs focused on underrepresented groups will enhance diversity at the graduate and undergrad levels. Innovative partnerships with Adler Planetarium and the School of the Art Institute in Chicago (SAIC) will bring Dark Matter science to broad and diverse audiences. Visitor experiences at the Adler Planetarium (450,000 visitors/year) will be enhanced by the participation of DAMIC scientists and the integration of visualizations of particle interactions with charge-coupled devices (CCDs). In collaboration with SAIC, an advanced STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) program will inspire art students as well as experienced professionals (e.g. designers) via explorations of software and modeling tools to display current scientific data.The Dark Matter In CCDs (DAMIC) experiment searches for low mass WIMPs with scientific-grade silicon CCDs. With this novel technique, WIMP-induced signals are detected with an unprecedented low energy threshold, and unique spatial resolution. DAMIC-100, to be installed in 2015 at the SNOLAB underground laboratory in Sudbury, Canada, will have an active detector mass of 100 g. This award provides support for the participation of the U. Chicago group to DAMIC-100. They have played a major role in the DAMIC R&D phase and in the construction of the 100 g detector. The group will have strong responsibilities in the test and calibration of the CCDs, in the installation and commissioning of the experiment, and in the data analysis. In addition, a calibration of the nuclear recoil energy scale will be performed at U. Chicago with a neutron source.