UK Involvement in Direct Dark Matter Searches

未来的直接暗物质搜索将需要具有更高灵敏度的仪器和互补的目标和技术，以便宣布发现，然后转向更详细的粒子特性和天体物理参数研究。英国研究人员在参与世界领先的实验方面处于有利地位，ZEPLIN-III（液态氙靶）和EDELWEISS-II（低温锗）在灵敏度方面取得了重大进展，英国已建立参与实验，最近英国招募了DEAP/CLEAN（液态氩气）。我们预计英国将在规模扩大到一吨基准质量及以上方面发挥主导作用，探索最可靠的WIMP暗物质模型所青睐的大部分参数空间。该建议侧重于设计EURECA和LUX-ZEPLIN （LZ）实验所需的技术开发工作，以降低技术风险并提高灵敏度。实现这些目标也将有助于英国团队在EURECA和LZ的建设、运营和开发中发挥领导作用。

Future direct dark matter searches will require instruments with improved sensitivity and complementary targets and techniques in order to claim a discovery, and then move to more detailed studies of the particle properties and astrophysical parameters. UK researchers are in an excellent position to participate in the world leading experiments, with significant progress in sensitivity achieved by ZEPLIN-III (liquid xenon target) and EDELWEISS-II (cryogenic germanium), experiments with established UK participation, and with a recent recruitment to the UK bringing a new involvement in DEAP/CLEAN (liquid argon). We anticipate a leading UK role in scale up to a tonne fiducial mass and beyond, probing the majority of the parameter space favoured by the most credible WIMP dark matter models. This proposal focuses on the technical development work necessary to design the EURECA and LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiments, to mitigate technical risks and improving sensitivity. Meeting these goals will also facilitate the positioning of the UK teams for leadership roles in the construction, operation and exploitation of EURECA and LZ.