A search for weakly interacting dark matter particles with low temperature detectors capable of simultaneously measuring ionization and heat

Details A search for weakly interacting dark matter particles with low temperature detectors capable of simultaneously measuring ionization and heat A search for weakly interacting dark matter particles with low temperature detectors capable of simultaneously measuring ionization and heat

Jan 1999

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1999phdt........46s&link_type=abstract

Thesis (PhD). UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA, Source DAI-B 61/07, p. 3646, Jan 2001, 202 pages.

Other

Scientific paper

The nature and extent of the mysterious ``dark matter'' has been one of the central puzzles in cosmology over the last decade. Current evidence suggests that the universe has a matter content of about 0.3 of the critical density. The theory of Big Bang nucleosynthesis allows only 20% of this matter to be made of protons and neutrons, hinting that the remaining 80% of the mass is in the form of a new elementary particle. One possibility is that this dark matter is made of the lightest neutralino suggested by supersymmetry, which should be stable and have a mass in the range 30-10000 GeV/c 2. These particles would have only weak interactions with ordinary matter, with the typical cross section for scattering on a nucleon below 10 -41 cm2. The particles would constitute a ``dark halo'' in our galaxy and could be discovered through their interactions with detectors on Earth. Since the typical interaction rate would be below 0.1 event/kg-day, the main experimental problem is to reduce the interference from environmental background radiation. The most troublesome interference comes from photons produced by the decay of radioactive elements present at trace levels in the detectors and other apparatus. One way to discriminate between signal events from WIMP- nucleus scattering and background events from photon interactions is to measure the ratio of ionization to heat deposited in a semiconductor detector. This differs by a factor of ~3 between the two cases. The Cryogenic Dark Matter Search (CDMS) experiment is based on the simultaneous measurement of ionization and phonons in germanium and silicon crystals cooled to 25 mK. This measurement allows >99% discrimination against photon interactions above 10 keV of deposited energy. We present data from two 165 g germanium detectors operated at the Stanford Underground Facility, with a total exposure equivalent to 6.4 kg-days. From this data set, we derive limits on the cross sections and masses of weakly interacting dark matter particles that might populate our galactic halo. These limits are close to the best that have been obtained by other methods so far, with good prospects for dramatic improvement in the near future.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

A search for weakly interacting dark matter particles with low temperature detectors capable of simultaneously measuring ionization and heat does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with A search for weakly interacting dark matter particles with low temperature detectors capable of simultaneously measuring ionization and heat, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and A search for weakly interacting dark matter particles with low temperature detectors capable of simultaneously measuring ionization and heat will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1276955