133 research outputs found
Probing the structure of the cold dark matter halo with ancient mica
Mica can store (for >1 Gy) etchable tracks caused by atoms recoiling from
WIMPs. Ancient mica is a directional detector despite the complex motions it
makes with respect to the WIMP "wind". We can exploit the properties of
directionality and long integration time to probe for structure in the dark
matter halo of our galaxy. We compute a sample of possible signals in mica for
a plausible model of halo structure.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figure
Simulations of the Nuclear Recoil Head-Tail Signature in Gases Relevant to Directional Dark Matter Searches
We present the first detailed simulations of the head-tail effect relevant to
directional Dark Matter searches. Investigations of the location of the
majority of the ionization charge as being either at the beginning half (tail)
or at the end half (head) of the nuclear recoil track were performed for carbon
and sulphur recoils in 40 Torr negative ion carbon disulfide and for fluorine
recoils in 100 Torr carbon tetrafluoride. The SRIM simulation program was used,
together with a purpose-written Monte Carlo generator, to model production of
ionizing pairs, diffusion and basic readout geometries relevant to potential
real detector scenarios, such as under development for the DRIFT experiment.
The results clearly indicate the existence of a head-tail track asymmetry but
with a magnitude critically influenced by two competing factors: the nature of
the stopping power and details of the range straggling. The former tends to
result in the tail being greater than the head and the latter the reverse.Comment: 22 pages, 12 figures, submitted to Astroparticle Physic
Track Reconstruction and Performance of DRIFT Directional Dark Matter Detectors using Alpha Particles
First results are presented from an analysis of data from the DRIFT-IIa and
DRIFT-IIb directional dark matter detectors at Boulby Mine in which alpha
particle tracks were reconstructed and used to characterise detector
performance--an important step towards optimising directional technology. The
drift velocity in DRIFT-IIa was [59.3 +/- 0.2 (stat) +/- 7.5 (sys)] m/s based
on an analysis of naturally-occurring alpha-emitting background. The drift
velocity in DRIFT-IIb was [57 +/- 1 (stat) +/- 3 (sys)] m/s determined by the
analysis of alpha particle tracks from a Po-210 source. 3D range reconstruction
and energy spectra were used to identify alpha particles from the decay of
Rn-222, Po-218, Rn-220 and Po-216. This study found that (22 +/- 2)% of Po-218
progeny (from Rn-222 decay) are produced with no net charge in 40 Torr CS2. For
Po-216 progeny (from Rn-220 decay) the uncharged fraction is (100 +0 -35)%.Comment: 27 pages, 12 figures, 5 tables. Submitted to Nuclear Instruments and
Methods in Physics Research, Section A. Subj-class: Instrumentation and
Detector
Comments on "Limits on Dark Matter Using Ancient Mica"
To appear in Phys. Rev. Lett. together with the author's Reply.Comment: Compressed PostScript (filename.ps.Z), 3 pages, no figure
The DRIFT Project: Searching for WIMPS with a Directional Detector
A low pressure time projection chamber for the detection of WIMPs is
discussed. Discrimination against Compton electron background in such a device
should be very good, and directional information about the recoil atoms would
be obtainable. If a full 3-D reconstruction of the recoil tracks can be
achieved, Monte Carlo studies indicate that a WIMP signal could be identified
with high confidence from as few as 30 detected WIMP-nucleus scattering events.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures. Presented at Dark 98, Heidelberg, July 1998, and
to appear in conference proceeding
First Results from the DRIFT-IIa Dark Matter Detector
Data from the DRIFT-IIa directional dark matter experiment are presented,
collected during a near continuous 6 month running period. A detailed
calibration analysis comparing data from gamma-ray, x-ray and neutron sources
to a GEANT4 Monte Carlo simulations reveals an efficiency for detection of
neutron induced recoils of 94+/-2(stat.)+/-5(sys.)%. Software-based cuts,
designed to remove non-nuclear recoil events, are shown to reject 60Co
gamma-rays with a rejection factor of better than 8x10-6 for all energies above
threshold. An unexpected event population has been discovered and is shown here
to be due to the alpha-decay of 222Rn daughter nuclei that have attached to the
central cathode. A limit on the flux of neutrons in the Boulby Underground
Laboratory is derived from analysis of unshielded and shielded data.Comment: 43 pages, 14 figures, submitted to Astroparticle Physic
Reducing DRIFT backgrounds with a submicron aluminized-mylar cathode
Background events in the DRIFT-IId dark matter detector, mimicking potential WIMP signals, are predominantly caused by alpha decays on the central cathode in which the alpha particle is completely or partially absorbed by the cathode material. We installed a View the MathML source thick aluminized-mylar cathode as a way to reduce the probability of producing these backgrounds. We study three generations of cathode (wire, thin-film, and radiologically clean thin-film) with a focus on the ratio of background events to alpha decays. Two independent methods of measuring the absolute alpha decay rate are used to ensure an accurate result, and agree to within 10%. Using alpha range spectroscopy, we measure the radiologically cleanest cathode version to have a contamination of 3.3±0.1 ppt 234U and 73±2 ppb 238U. This cathode reduces the probability of producing an RPR from an alpha decay by a factor of 70±20 compared to the original stainless steel wire cathode. First results are presented from a texturized version of the cathode, intended to be even more transparent to alpha particles. These efforts, along with other background reduction measures, have resulted in a drop in the observed background rate from 500/day to 1/day. With the recent implementation of full-volume fiducialization, these remaining background events are identified, allowing for background-free operation
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