6 research outputs found
LIME -- a gas TPC prototype for directional Dark Matter search for the CYGNO experiment
The CYGNO experiment aims at the development of a large gaseous TPC with
GEM-based amplification and an optical readout by means of PMTs and scientific
CMOS cameras for 3D tracking down to O(keV) energies, for the directional
detection of rare events such as low mass Dark Matter and solar neutrino
interactions. The largest prototype built so far towards the realisation of the
CYGNO experiment demonstrator is the 50 L active volume LIME, with 4 PMTs and a
single sCMOS imaging a 3333 cm\textsuperscript{2} area for 50 cm drift,
that has been installed in underground Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso in
February 2022. We will illustrate LIME performances as evaluated overground in
Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati by means of radioactive X-ray sources, and in
particular the detector stability, energy response and energy resolution. We
will discuss the MC simulation developed to reproduce the detector response and
show the comparison with actual data. We will furthermore examine the
background simulation worked out for LIME underground data taking and
illustrate the foreseen expected measurement and results in terms of natural
and materials intrinsic radioactivity characterisation and measurement of the
LNGS underground natural neutron flux. The results that will be obtained by
underground LIME installation will be paramount in the optimisation of the
CYGNO demonstrator, since this is foreseen to be composed by multiple modules
with the same LIME dimensions and characteristics
The CYGNO Experiment
The search for a novel technology able to detect and reconstruct nuclear and
electron recoil events with the energy of a few keV has become more and more
important now that large regions of high-mass dark matter (DM) candidates have
been excluded. Moreover, a detector sensitive to incoming particle direction
will be crucial in the case of DM discovery to open the possibility of studying
its properties. Gaseous time projection chambers (TPC) with optical readout are
very promising detectors combining the detailed event information provided by
the TPC technique with the high sensitivity and granularity of
latest-generation scientific light sensors. The CYGNO experiment (a CYGNus
module with Optical readout) aims to exploit the optical readout approach of
multiple-GEM structures in large volume TPCs for the study of rare events as
interactions of low-mass DM or solar neutrinos. The combined use of
high-granularity sCMOS cameras and fast light sensors allows the reconstruction
of the 3D direction of the tracks, offering good energy resolution and very
high sensitivity in the few keV energy range, together with a very good
particle identification useful for distinguishing nuclear recoils from
electronic recoils. This experiment is part of the CYGNUS proto-collaboration,
which aims at constructing a network of underground observatories for
directional DM search. A one cubic meter demonstrator is expected to be built
in 2022/23 aiming at a larger scale apparatus (30 m--100 m) at a later
stage
Directional Dark Matter Searches with CYGNO
The CYGNO project aims at developing a high resolution Time Projection Chamber with optical readout for directional dark matter searches and solar neutrino spectroscopy. Peculiar CYGNOâs features are the 3D tracking capability provided by the combination of photomultipliers and scientific CMOS camera signals, combined with a helium-fluorine-based gas mixture at atmospheric pressure amplified by gas electron multipliers structures. In this paper, the performances achieved with CYGNO prototypes and the prospects for the upcoming underground installation at Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso of a 50-L detector in fall 2021 will be discussed, together with the plans for a 1-m3 experiment. The synergy with the ERC consolidator, grant project INITIUM, aimed at realising negative ion drift operation within the CYGNO 3D optical approach, will be further illustrated
A 50Â l
The nature of dark matter is still unknown and an experimental program to look for dark matter particles in our Galaxy should extend its sensitivity to light particles in the GeV mass range and exploit the directional information of the DM particle motion (Vahsen et al. in CYGNUS: feasibility of a nuclear recoil observatory with directional sensitivity to dark matter and neutrinos, arXiv:2008.1258
The CYGNO experiment, a directional detector for direct Dark Matter searches
The CYGNO project aims at the development of a high precision optical readout gaseous Tima Projection Chamber (TPC) for directional dark matter (DM) searches, to be hosted at Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS). CYGNO employs a He:CF gas mixture at atmospheric pressure with a Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) based amplification structure coupled to an optical readout comprised of sCMOS cameras and photomultiplier tubes (PMTs). This experimental setup allows to achieve 3D tracking and background rejection down to O(1) keV energy, to boost sensitivity to low WIMP masses. The characteristics of the optical readout approach in terms of the light yield will be illustrated along with the particle identification properties. The project timeline foresees, in the next 2â3 years, the realisation and installation of a 0.4 m3 TPC in the underground laboratories at LNGS to act as a demonstrator. Finally, the studies of the expected DM sensitivities of the CYGNO demonstrator will be presented
LIME. A gas TPC prototype for directional Dark Matter search for the CYGNO experiment
The CYGNO experiment aims at the development of a large gaseous TPC with GEM-based amplification and an optical readout
by means of PMTs and scientific CMOS cameras for 3D tracking down to O(keV) energies, for the directional detection of rare
events such as low mass Dark Matter and solar neutrino interactions. The largest prototype built so far towards the realisation of the
CYGNO experiment demonstrator is the 50 L active volume LIME, with 4 PMTs and a single sCMOS imaging a 33Ă33 cm2 area for
50 cm drift, that has been installed in underground Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso in February 2022. We will illustrate LIME
performances as evaluated overground in Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati by means of radioactive X-ray sources, and in particular
the detector stability, energy response and energy resolution. We will discuss the MC simulation developed to reproduce the detector
response and show the comparison with actual data. We will furthermore examine the background simulation worked out for LIME
underground data taking and illustrate the foreseen expected measurement and results in terms of natural and materials intrinsic
radioactivity characterisation and measurement of the LNGS underground natural neutron flux. The results that will be obtained
by underground LIME installation will be paramount in the optimisation of the CYGNO demonstrator, since this is foreseen to be
composed by multiple modules with the same LIME dimensions and characteristic