307 research outputs found
First results from dark matter search experiment with LiF bolometer at Kamioka Underground Laboratory
Tokyo group has performed first underground dark matter search experiment in
2001 through 2002 at Kamioka Observatory(2700m.w.e). The detector is eight LiF
bolometers with total mass 168g aiming for the direct detection of WIMPs via
spin-dependent interaction. With a total exposure of 4.1 kg days, we derived
the limits in the a_p-a_n (WIMP-nucleon couplings) plane and excluded a large
part of the parameter space allowed by the UKDMC experiment.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figure
Superheated Microdrops as Cold Dark Matter Detectors
It is shown that under realistic background considerations, an improvement in
Cold Dark Matter sensitivity of several orders of magnitude is expected from a
detector based on superheated liquid droplets. Such devices are totally
insensitive to minimum ionizing radiation while responsive to nuclear recoils
of energies ~ few keV. They operate on the same principle as the bubble
chamber, but offer unattended, continuous, and safe operation at room
temperature and atmospheric pressure.Comment: 15 pgs, 4 figures include
Fermi Surface of Alpha-Uranium at Ambient Pressure
We have performed de Haas-van Alphen measurements of the Fermi surface of
alpha-uranium single crystals at ambient pressure within the alpha-3 charge
density wave (CDW) state from 0.020 K - 10 K and magnetic fields to 35 T using
torque magnetometry. The angular dependence of the resulting frequencies is
described. Effective masses were measured and the Dingle temperature was
determined to be 0.74 K +/- 0.04 K. The observation of quantum oscillations
within the alpha-3 CDW state gives new insight into the effect of the charge
density waves on the Fermi surface. In addition we observed no signature of
superconductivity in either transport or magnetization down to 0.020 K
indicating the possibility of a pressure-induced quantum critical point that
separates the superconducting dome from the normal CDW phase.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures, 3 table
Experimental constraints on a dark matter origin for the DAMA annual modulation effect
A claim for evidence of dark matter interactions in the DAMA experiment has
been recently reinforced. We employ a new type of germanium detector to
conclusively rule out a standard isothermal galactic halo of Weakly Interacting
Massive Particles (WIMPs) as the explanation for the annual modulation effect
leading to the claim. Bounds are similarly imposed on a suggestion that dark
pseudoscalars mightlead to the effect. We describe the sensitivity to light
dark matter particles achievable with our device, in particular to
Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Model candidates.Comment: v4: introduces recent results from arXiv:0807.3279 and
arXiv:0807.2926. Sensitivity to pseudoscalars is revised in light of the
first. Discussion on the subject adde
Comment on "Evidence for Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay"
We comment on the recent claim for the experimental observation of
neutrinoless double-beta decay. We discuss several limitations in the analysis
provided in that paper and conclude that there is no basis for the presented
claim.Comment: A comment written to Modern Physics Letters A. 4 pages, no figures.
Updated version, accepted for publicatio
Biological Effects of Stellar Collapse Neutrinos
Massive stars in their final stages of collapse radiate most of their binding
energy in the form of MeV neutrinos. The recoil atoms that they produce in
elastic scattering off nuclei in organic tissue create radiation damage which
is highly effective in the production of irreparable DNA harm, leading to
cellular mutation, neoplasia and oncogenesis. Using a conventional model of the
galaxy and of the collapse mechanism, the periodicity of nearby stellar
collapses and the radiation dose are calculated. The possible contribution of
this process to the paleontological record of mass extinctions is examined.Comment: gzipped PostScript (filename.ps.Z), 12 pages. Final version, Phys.
Rev. Lett., in pres
Results from a Search for Light-Mass Dark Matter with a P-type Point Contact Germanium Detector
We report on several features present in the energy spectrum from an ultra
low-noise germanium detector operated at 2,100 m.w.e. By implementing a new
technique able to reject surface events, a number of cosmogenic peaks can be
observed for the first time. We discuss several possible causes for an
irreducible excess of bulk-like events below 3 keVee, including a dark matter
candidate common to the DAMA/LIBRA annual modulation effect, the hint of a
signal in CDMS, and phenomenological predictions. Improved constraints are
placed on a cosmological origin for the DAMA/LIBRA effect.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures. v2: submitted version. Minimal changes in
wording, one reference adde
Physics at a Fermilab Proton Driver
This report documents the physics case for building a 2 MW, 8 GeV
superconducting linac proton driver at Fermilab.Comment: 52 pages, 15 figure
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