180 research outputs found
Dark Matter Search in the Edelweiss Experiment
Preliminary results obtained with 320g bolometers with simultaneous
ionization and heat measurements are described. After a few weeks of data
taking, data accumulated with one of these detectors are beginning to exclude
the upper part of the DAMA region. Prospects for the present run and the second
stage of the experiment, EDELWEISS-II, using an innovative reversed cryostat
allowing data taking with 100 detectors, are briefly described.Comment: IDM 2000, 3rd International Workshop on the Identification of Dark
Matter, York (GB), 18-22/09/2000, v2.0 minor modification
First Results of the EDELWEISS WIMP Search using a 320 g Heat-and-Ionization Ge Detector
The EDELWEISS collaboration has performed a direct search for WIMP dark
matter using a 320 g heat-and-ionization cryogenic Ge detector operated in a
low-background environment in the Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane. No nuclear
recoils are observed in the fiducial volume in the 30-200 keV energy range
during an effective exposure of 4.53 kg.days. Limits for the cross-section for
the spin-independent interaction of WIMPs and nucleons are set in the framework
of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM). The central value of the
signal reported by the experiment DAMA is excluded at 90% CL.Comment: 14 pages, Latex, 4 figures. Submitted to Phys. Lett.
Event categories in the EDELWEISS WIMP search experiment
Four categories of events have been identified in the EDELWEISS-I dark matter
experiment using germanium cryogenic detectors measuring simultaneously charge
and heat signals. These categories of events are interpreted as electron and
nuclear interactions occurring in the volume of the detector, and electron and
nuclear interactions occurring close to the surface of the detectors(10-20 mu-m
of the surface). We discuss the hypothesis that low energy surface nuclear
recoils,which seem to have been unnoticed by previous WIMP searches, may
provide an interpretation of the anomalous events recorded by the UKDMC and
Saclay NaI experiments. The present analysis points to the necessity of taking
into account surface nuclear and electron recoil interactions for a reliable
estimate of background rejection factors.Comment: 11 pages, submitted to Phys. Lett.
Identification of backgrounds in the EDELWEISS-I dark matter search experiment
This paper presents our interpretation and understanding of the different
backgrounds in the EDELWEISS-I data sets. We analyze in detail the several
populations observed, which include gammas, alphas, neutrons, thermal sensor
events and surface events, and try to combine all data sets to provide a
coherent picture of the nature and localisation of the background sources. In
light of this interpretation, we draw conclusions regarding the background
suppression scheme for the EDELWEISS-II phase
SICANE: a Detector Array for the Measurement of Nuclear Recoil Quenching Factors using Monoenergetic Neutron Beam
SICANE is a neutron scattering multidetector facility for the determination
of the quenching factor (ratio of the response to nuclear recoils and to
electrons) of cryogenic detectors used in direct WIMP searches. Well collimated
monoenergetic neutron beams are obtained with inverse (p,n) reactions. The
facility is described, and results obtained for the quenching factors of
scintillation in NaI(Tl) and of heat and ionization in Ge are presented.Comment: 30 pages, Latex, 11 figures. Submitted to NIM
Measurement of the response of heat-and-ionization germanium detectors to nuclear recoils
The heat quenching factor Q' (the ratio of the heat signals produced by
nuclear and electron recoils of equal energy) of the heat-and-ionization
germanium bolometers used by the EDELWEISS collaboration has been measured. It
is explained how this factor affects the energy scale and the effective
quenching factor observed in calibrations with neutron sources. This effective
quenching effect is found to be equal to Q/Q', where Q is the quenching factor
of the ionization yield. To measure Q', a precise EDELWEISS measurement of Q/Q'
is combined with values of Q obtained from a review of all available
measurements of this quantity in tagged neutron beam experiments. The
systematic uncertainties associated with this method to evaluate Q' are
discussed in detail. For recoil energies between 20 and 100 keV, the resulting
heat quenching factor is Q' = 0.91+-0.03+-0.04, where the two errors are the
contributions from the Q and Q/Q' measurements, respectively. The present
compilation of Q values and evaluation of Q' represent one of the most precise
determinations of the absolute energy scale for any detector used in direct
searches for dark matter.Comment: 28 pages, 7 figures. Submitted to Phys. Rev.
Background discrimination capabilities of a heat and ionization germanium cryogenic detector
The discrimination capabilities of a 70 g heat and ionization Ge bolometer
are studied. This first prototype has been used by the EDELWEISS Dark Matter
experiment, installed in the Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane, for direct
detection of WIMPs. Gamma and neutron calibrations demonstrate that this type
of detector is able to reject more than 99.6% of the background while retaining
95% of the signal, provided that the background events distribution is not
biased towards the surface of the Ge crystal. However, the 1.17 kg.day of data
taken in a relatively important radioactive environment show an extra
population slightly overlapping the signal. This background is likely due to
interactions of low energy photons or electrons near the surface of the
crystal, and is somewhat reduced by applying a higher charge-collecting inverse
bias voltage (-6 V instead of -2 V) to the Ge diode. Despite this
contamination, more than 98% of the background can be rejected while retaining
50% of the signal. This yields a conservative upper limit of 0.7
event.day^{-1}.kg^{-1}.keV^{-1}_{recoil} at 90% confidence level in the 15-45
keV recoil energy interval; the present sensitivity appears to be limited by
the fast ambient neutrons. Upgrades in progress on the installation are
summarized.Comment: Submitted to Astroparticle Physics, 14 page
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