336 research outputs found
Understanding Current Signals Induced by Drifting Electrons
Consider an electron drifting in a gas toward a collection electrode. A
common misconception is that the electron produces a detectable signal only
upon arrival at the electrode. In fact, the situation is quite the opposite.
The electron induces a detectable current in the electrode as soon as it starts
moving through the gas. This induced current vanishes when the electron arrives
at the plate. To illustrate this phenomenon experimentally, we use a gas-filled
parallel plate ionization chamber and a collimated Am alpha source,
which produces a track of a fixed number of ionization electrons at a constant
distance from the collection electrode. We find that the detected signal from
the ionization chamber grows with the electron drift distance, as predicted by
the model of charge induction, and in conflict with the idea that electrons are
detectable upon arrival at the collection plate.Comment: 21 pages, 12 figure
The First Lunar Ranging Constraints on Gravity Sector SME Parameters
We present the first constraints on pure-gravity sector Standard-Model
Extension (SME) parameters using Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR). LLR measures the
round trip travel time of light between the Earth and the Moon. With 34+ years
of LLR data, we have constrained six independent linear combinations of SME
parameters at the level of to . There is no evidence for
Lorentz violation in the LLR dataset.Comment: 7 pages, presented at the Fourth Meeting on CPT and Lorentz Symmetry,
Bloomington, Indiana, August 200
Readout technologies for directional WIMP Dark Matter detection
The measurement of the direction of WIMP-induced nuclear recoils is a compelling but technologically challenging strategy to provide an unambiguous signature of the detection of Galactic dark matter. Most directional detectors aim to reconstruct the dark-matter-induced nuclear recoil tracks, either in gas or solid targets. The main challenge with directional detection is the need for high spatial resolution over large volumes, which puts strong requirements on the readout technologies. In this paper we review the various detector readout technologies used by directional detectors. In particular, we summarize the challenges, advantages and drawbacks of each approach, and discuss future prospects for these technologies
Gain Stabilization of a Submillimeter SIS Heterodyne Receiver
We have designed a system to stabilize the gain of a submillimeter heterodyne
receiver against thermal fluctuations of the mixing element. In the most
sensitive heterodyne receivers, the mixer is usually cooled to 4 K using a
closed-cycle cryocooler, which can introduce ~1% fluctuations in the physical
temperature of the receiver components. We compensate for the resulting mixer
conversion gain fluctuations by monitoring the physical temperature of the
mixer and adjusting the gain of the intermediate frequency (IF) amplifier that
immediately follows the mixer. This IF power stabilization scheme, developed
for use at the Submillimeter Array (SMA), a submillimeter interferometer
telescope on Mauna Kea in Hawaii, routinely achieves a receiver gain stability
of 1 part in 6,000 (rms to mean). This is an order of magnitude improvement
over the typical uncorrected stability of 1 part in a few hundred. Our gain
stabilization scheme is a useful addition to SIS heterodyne receivers that are
cooled using closed-cycle cryocoolers in which the 4 K temperature fluctuations
tend to be the leading cause of IF power fluctuations.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures accepted to IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory
and Technique
Dark Matter Time Projection Chamber: Recent R&D Results
The Dark Matter Time Projection Chamber collaboration recently reported a dark matter limit obtained with a 10 liter time projection chamber filled with CF4 gas. The 10 liter detector was capable of 2D tracking (perpendicular to the drift direction) and 2D fiducialization, and only used information from two CCD cameras when identifying tracks and rejecting backgrounds. Since that time, the collaboration has explored the potential benefits of photomultiplier tube and electronic charge readout to achieve 3D tracking, and particle identification for background rejection. The latest results of this effort is described here
Detection Prospects for Majorana Fermion WIMPless Dark Matter
We consider both velocity-dependent and velocity-independent contributions to
spin-dependent (SD) and spin-independent (SI) nuclear scattering (including
one-loop corrections) of WIMPless dark matter, in the case where the dark
matter candidate is a Majorana fermion. We find that spin-independent
scattering arises only from the mixing of exotic squarks, or from
velocity-dependent terms. Nevertheless (and contrary to the case of MSSM
neutralino WIMPs), we find a class of models which cannot be detected through
SI scattering, but can be detected at IceCube/DeepCore through SD scattering.
We study the detection prospects for both SI and SD detection strategies for a
large range of Majorana fermion WIMPless model parameters.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures. v2: updated to match published versio
Testing for Lorentz Violation: Constraints on Standard-Model-Extension Parameters via Lunar Laser Ranging
We present constraints on violations of Lorentz invariance based on archival lunar laser-ranging (LLR) data. LLR measures the Earth-Moon separation by timing the round-trip travel of light between the two bodies and is currently accurate to the equivalent of a few centimeters (parts in 1011 of the total distance). By analyzing this LLR data under the standard-model extension (SME) framework, we derived six observational constraints on dimensionless SME parameters that describe potential Lorentz violation. We found no evidence for Lorentz violation at the 10-6 to 10-11 level in these parameters. This work constitutes the first LLR constraints on SME parameters
Testing for Lorentz Violation: Constraints on Standard-Model-Extension Parameters via Lunar Laser Ranging
We present constraints on violations of Lorentz invariance based on archival lunar laser-ranging (LLR) data. LLR measures the Earth-Moon separation by timing the round-trip travel of light between the two bodies and is currently accurate to the equivalent of a few centimeters (parts in 1011 of the total distance). By analyzing this LLR data under the standard-model extension (SME) framework, we derived six observational constraints on dimensionless SME parameters that describe potential Lorentz violation. We found no evidence for Lorentz violation at the 10-6 to 10-11 level in these parameters. This work constitutes the first LLR constraints on SME parameters
An absolute calibration system for millimeter-accuracy APOLLO measurements
Lunar laser ranging provides a number of leading experimental tests of
gravitation -- important in our quest to unify General Relativity and the
Standard Model of physics. The Apache Point Observatory Lunar Laser-ranging
Operation (APOLLO) has for years achieved median range precision at the ~2 mm
level. Yet residuals in model-measurement comparisons are an order-of-magnitude
larger, raising the question of whether the ranging data are not nearly as
accurate as they are precise, or if the models are incomplete or
ill-conditioned. This paper describes a new absolute calibration system (ACS)
intended both as a tool for exposing and eliminating sources of systematic
error, and also as a means to directly calibrate ranging data in-situ. The
system consists of a high-repetition-rate (80 MHz) laser emitting short (< 10
ps) pulses that are locked to a cesium clock. In essence, the ACS delivers
photons to the APOLLO detector at exquisitely well-defined time intervals as a
"truth" input against which APOLLO's timing performance may be judged and
corrected. Preliminary analysis indicates no inaccuracies in APOLLO data beyond
the ~3 mm level, suggesting that historical APOLLO data are of high quality and
motivating continued work on model capabilities. The ACS provides the means to
deliver APOLLO data both accurate and precise below the 2 mm level.Comment: 21 pages, 10 figures, submitted to Classical and Quantum Gravit
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