49 research outputs found
Lowering the energy threshold in COSINE-100 dark matter searches
COSINE-100 is a dark matter detection experiment that uses NaI(Tl) crystal
detectors operating at the Yangyang underground laboratory in Korea since
September 2016. Its main goal is to test the annual modulation observed by the
DAMA/LIBRA experiment with the same target medium. Recently DAMA/LIBRA has
released data with an energy threshold lowered to 1 keV, and the persistent
annual modulation behavior is still observed at 9.5. By lowering the
energy threshold for electron recoils to 1 keV, COSINE-100 annual modulation
results can be compared to those of DAMA/LIBRA in a model-independent way.
Additionally, the event selection methods provide an access to a few to sub-GeV
dark matter particles using constant rate studies. In this article, we discuss
the COSINE-100 event selection algorithm, its validation, and efficiencies near
the threshold
First Results from the AMoRE-Pilot neutrinoless double beta decay experiment
The Advanced Molybdenum-based Rare process Experiment (AMoRE) aims to search
for neutrinoless double beta decay (0) of Mo with
100 kg of Mo-enriched molybdenum embedded in cryogenic detectors
with a dual heat and light readout. At the current, pilot stage of the AMoRE
project we employ six calcium molybdate crystals with a total mass of 1.9 kg,
produced from Ca-depleted calcium and Mo-enriched molybdenum
(CaMoO). The simultaneous detection of
heat(phonon) and scintillation (photon) signals is realized with high
resolution metallic magnetic calorimeter sensors that operate at milli-Kelvin
temperatures. This stage of the project is carried out in the Yangyang
underground laboratory at a depth of 700 m. We report first results from the
AMoRE-Pilot search with a 111 kgd live exposure of
CaMoO crystals. No evidence for
decay of Mo is found, and a upper limit is set for the
half-life of 0 of Mo of y at 90% C.L.. This limit corresponds to an effective
Majorana neutrino mass limit in the range eV
Muon detector for the COSINE-100 experiment
The COSINE-100 dark matter search experiment has started taking physics data with the goal of performing an independent measurement of the annual modulation signal observed by DAMA/LIBRA. A muon detector was constructed by using plastic scintillator panels in the outermost layer of the shield surrounding the COSINE-100 detector. It detects cosmic ray muons in order to understand the impact of the muon annual modulation on dark matter analysis. Assembly and initial performance tests of each module have been performed at a ground laboratory. The installation of the detector in the Yangyang Underground Laboratory (Y2L) was completed in the summer of 2016. Using three months of data, the muon underground flux was measured to be 328 ± 1(stat.)± 10(syst.) muons/m2/day. In this report, the assembly of the muon detector and the results from the analysis are presented
Alpha backgrounds in NaI(Tl) crystals of COSINE-100
COSINE-100 is a dark matter direct detection experiment with 106 kg NaI(Tl)
as the target material. 210Pb and daughter isotopes are a dominant background
in the WIMP region of interest and are detected via beta decay and alpha decay.
Analysis of the alpha channel complements the background model as observed in
the beta/gamma channel. We present the measurement of the quenching factors and
Monte Carlo simulation results and activity quantification of the alpha decay
components of the COSINE-100 NaI(Tl) crystals. The data strongly indicate that
the alpha decays probabilistically undergo two possible quenching factors but
require further investigation. The fitted results are consistent with
independent measurements and improve the overall understanding of the
COSINE-100 backgrounds. Furthermore, the half-life of 216Po has been measured
to be 143.4 +/- 1.2 ms, which is consistent with and more precise than recent
measurements