34 research outputs found
Measurement of isotopic separation of argon with the prototype of the cryogenic distillation plant Aria for dark matter searches
The Aria cryogenic distillation plant, located in Sardinia, Italy, is a key
component of the DarkSide-20k experimental program for WIMP dark matter
searches at the INFN Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso, Italy. Aria is
designed to purify the argon, extracted from underground wells in Colorado,
USA, and used as the DarkSide-20k target material, to detector-grade quality.
In this paper, we report the first measurement of argon isotopic separation by
distillation with the 26 m tall Aria prototype. We discuss the measurement of
the operating parameters of the column and the observation of the simultaneous
separation of the three stable argon isotopes: Ar, Ar, and
Ar. We also provide a detailed comparison of the experimental results
with commercial process simulation software. This measurement of isotopic
separation of argon is a significant achievement for the project, building on
the success of the initial demonstration of isotopic separation of nitrogen
using the same equipment in 2019
The DarkSide Program at LNGS
DarkSide is a direct detection dark matter program based on two phase time
projection chambers with depleted argon targets. The DarkSide detectors are
designed, using novel low background techniques and active shielding, to be
capable of demonstrating in situ a very low level of residual background. This
means that each detector in the DarkSide program should have the ability to
make a convincing claim of dark matter detection based on the observation of a
few nuclear recoil events. The collaboration is currently operating a 10 kg
prototype detector, DarkSide-10, in Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso, Italy,
while the first physics detector in the program, DarkSide-50, is expected to be
deployed at LNGS at the end of 2012.Comment: Proceedings submission for DPF2011. 7 pages, 4 figure
Separating Ar from Ar by cryogenic distillation with Aria for dark matter searches
The Aria project consists of a plant, hosting a 350 m cryogenic isotopic distillation column, the tallest ever built, which is currently in the installation phase in a mine shaft at Carbosulcis S.p.A., Nuraxi-Figus (SU), Italy. Aria is one of the pillars of the argon dark-matter search experimental program, lead by the Global Argon Dark Matter Collaboration. Aria was designed to reduce the isotopic abundance of Ar, a -emitter of cosmogenic origin, whose activity poses background and pile-up concerns in the detectors, in the argon used for the dark-matter searches, the so-called Underground Argon (UAr). In this paper, we discuss the requirements, design, construction, tests, and projected performance of the plant for the isotopic cryogenic distillation of argon. We also present the successful results of isotopic cryogenic distillation of nitrogen with a prototype plant, operating the column at total reflux
Sensitivity projections for a dual-phase argon TPC optimized for light dark matter searches through the ionization channel
Dark matter lighter than 10 GeV/c encompasses a promising range of candidates. A conceptual design for a new detector, DarkSide-LowMass, is presented, based on the DarkSide-50 detector and progress toward DarkSide-20k, optimized for a low-threshold electron-counting measurement. Sensitivity to light dark matter is explored for various potential energy thresholds and background rates. These studies show that DarkSide-LowMass can achieve sensitivity to light dark matter down to the solar neutrino floor for GeV-scale masses and significant sensitivity down to 10 MeV/c considering the Migdal effect or interactions with electrons. Requirements for optimizing the detector's sensitivity are explored, as are potential sensitivity gains from modeling and mitigating spurious electron backgrounds that may dominate the signal at the lowest energies
Study on cosmogenic activation above ground for the DarkSide-20k project
The activation of materials due to the exposure to cosmic rays may become an important background source for experiments investigating rare event phenomena. DarkSide-20k is a direct detection experiment for galactic dark matter particles, using a two-phase liquid argon time projection chamber filled with 49.7 tonnes (active mass) of Underground Argon (UAr) depleted in 39Ar. Here, the cosmogenic activity of relevant long-lived radioisotopes induced in the argon and other massive components of the set-up has been estimated; production of 120 t of radiopure UAr is foreseen. The expected exposure above ground and production rates, either measured or calculated, have been considered. From the simulated counting rates in the detector due to cosmogenic isotopes, it is concluded that activation in copper and stainless steel is not problematic. Activation of titanium, considered in early designs but not used in the final design, is discussed. The activity of 39Ar induced during extraction, purification and transport on surface, in baseline conditions, is evaluated to be 2.8% of the activity measured in UAr from the same source, and thus considered acceptable. Other products in the UAr such as 37Ar and 3H are shown to not be relevant due to short half-life and assumed purification methods
Measurement of isotopic separation of argon with the prototype of the cryogenic distillation plant Aria for dark matter searches
The Aria cryogenic distillation plant, located in Sardinia, Italy, is a key component of the DarkSide-20k experimental program for WIMP dark matter searches at the INFN Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso, Italy. Aria is designed to purify the argon, extracted from underground wells in Colorado, USA, and used as the DarkSide-20k target material, to detector-grade quality. In this paper, we report the first measurement of argon isotopic separation by distillation with the 26 m tall Aria prototype. We discuss the measurement of the operating parameters of the column and the observation of the simultaneous separation of the three stable argon isotopes: Ar, Ar, and Ar. We also provide a detailed comparison of the experimental results with commercial process simulation software. This measurement of isotopic separation of argon is a significant achievement for the project, building on the success of the initial demonstration of isotopic separation of nitrogen using the same equipment in 2019
Results from the first use of low radioactivity argon in a dark matter search
Liquid argon is a bright scintillator with potent particle identification
properties, making it an attractive target for direct-detection dark matter
searches. The DarkSide-50 dark matter search here reports the first WIMP search
results obtained using a target of low-radioactivity argon. DarkSide-50 is a
dark matter detector, using two-phase liquid argon time projection chamber,
located at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso. The underground argon is
shown to contain Ar-39 at a level reduced by a factor (1.4 +- 0.2) x 10^3
relative to atmospheric argon. We report a background-free null result from
(2616 +- 43) kg d of data, accumulated over 70.9 live-days. When combined with
our previous search using an atmospheric argon, the 90 % C.L. upper limit on
the WIMP-nucleon spin-independent cross section based on zero events found in
the WIMP search regions, is 2.0 x 10^-44 cm^2 (8.6 x 10^-44 cm^2, 8.0 x 10^-43
cm^2) for a WIMP mass of 100 GeV/c^2 (1 TeV/c^2 , 10 TeV/c^2).Comment: Accepted by Phys. Rev.
Search for dark matter annual modulation with DarkSide-50
Dark matter induced event rate in an Earth-based detector is predicted to
show an annual modulation as a result of the Earth's orbital motion around the
Sun. We searched for this modulation signature using the ionization signal of
the DarkSide-50 liquid argon time projection chamber. No significant signature
compatible with dark matter is observed in the electron recoil equivalent
energy range above , the lowest threshold ever achieved in
such a search.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure
Search for dark matter-nucleon interactions via Migdal effect with DarkSide-50
Dark matter elastic scattering off nuclei can result in the excitation and
ionization of the recoiling atom through the so-called Migdal effect. The
energy deposition from the ionization electron adds to the energy deposited by
the recoiling nuclear system and allows for the detection of interactions of
sub-GeV/c mass dark matter. We present new constraints for sub-GeV/c
dark matter using the dual-phase liquid argon time projection chamber of the
DarkSide-50 experiment with an exposure of (12306 184) kg d. The analysis
is based on the ionization signal alone and significantly enhances the
sensitivity of DarkSide-50, enabling sensitivity to dark matter with masses
down to 40 MeV/c. Furthermore, it sets the most stringent upper limit on
the spin independent dark matter nucleon cross section for masses below
GeV/c.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure
Search for dark matter particle interactions with electron final states with DarkSide-50
We present a search for dark matter particles with sub-GeV/ masses whose
interactions have final state electrons using the DarkSide-50 experiment's
(12306 184) kg d low-radioactivity liquid argon exposure. By analyzing
the ionization signals, we exclude new parameter space for the dark
matter-electron cross section , the axioelectric coupling
constant , and the dark photon kinetic mixing parameter . We
also set the first dark matter direct-detection constraints on the mixing angle
for keV sterile neutrinos.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figure