The SMU SuperCDMS Program

天体物理观测和宇宙学数据提供了强有力的证据，证明宇宙的近四分之一由暗物质组成。弱相互作用大质量粒子（WIMP）和轴子被认为是理论上最受欢迎的暗物质候选者。尽管有强有力的证据证明暗物质的存在，但无论是WIMP还是轴子都没有被最终发现。该奖项将为SMU的研究计划提供资金，该计划致力于推进SuperCDMS SNOLAB实验，以实现探索低质量（10 GeV/c^2）暗物质区域的目标，并最终对太阳中微子-核散射变得显着的WIMP-核子截面（所谓的“中微子地板”）具有灵敏度。实现这一目标的一部分是已经计划的实验升级，其中将包括由Ge和Si晶体制成的更大质量的探测器，这些探测器在超灵敏的高压模式和标准电压模式下运行。该奖项的教育目标是为SMU的本科生创造研究机会，并促进与北德克萨斯社区的关系。该方法是通过为1 - 2名本科生在夏季和学年期间从事研究提供支持来加强SMU的学习计划。为了促进与北德克萨斯州社区的关系，该小组将自愿参加各种指导活动。在未来三年内，必须实现几个关键的里程碑，以推进SuperCDMS SNOLAB计划。其中包括安装SuperCDMS SNOLAB实验，调试和操作实验，发表在CUTE探测器测试设施进行的早期科学研究结果，以及为开发氡背景模型而进行的材料表面分析。此外，SuperCDMS必须保持一个受控的低背景环境，并将此背景描述到一个允许合作利用更复杂的分析技术的水平，这些分析技术采用诸如最大似然估计等工具。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得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来支持。

Astrophysical observations and cosmological data give strong evidence that nearly a quarter of the Universe consists of dark matter. Weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) and axions have been proposed as theoretically favored candidates for dark matter. Despite the strong evidence for the existence of dark matter, neither WIMPs nor axions have been conclusively detected. This award will provide funding for the research program at SMU that is dedicated to advancing the SuperCDMS SNOLAB experiment towards its goal of exploring the low mass ( 10 GeV/c^2) dark matter region, and ultimately to having sensitivity to WIMP-nucleon cross sections where solar neutrino-nucleus scattering becomes significant (the so-called “neutrino floor”). Part of achieving this objective is an already-planned upgrade of the experiment that will include more massive detectors made of Ge and Si crystals operated in both an ultra-sensitive high-voltage mode and standard voltage mode. The educational objective of this award is to create research opportunities for undergraduate students at SMU and foster relationships with the North Texas community. The approach is to enhance the Engaged Learning program at SMU by providing support for 1 - 2 undergraduate students to engage in research during both the summer and academic year. To foster relationships with the community of North Texas, the group will volunteer their time participating in a variety of mentoring activities.During the next three years, several critical milestones must be achieved to advance the SuperCDMS SNOLAB program. These include installing the SuperCDMS SNOLAB experiment, commissioning and operating the experiment, publishing results from early science taken at the CUTE detector test facility, and a surface assay of materials for the purpose of developing a radon background model. In addition, SuperCDMS must maintain a controlled low background environment, and characterize this background to a level that allows the collaboration to take advantage of more sophisticated analysis techniques that employ tools such as maximal likelihood estimations.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.