9 research outputs found
Direct Detection of Light Dark Matter and Solar Neutrinos via Color Center Production in Crystals
We propose a new low-threshold direct-detection concept for dark matter and
for coherent nuclear scattering of solar neutrinos, based on the dissociation
of atoms and subsequent creation of color center type defects within a lattice.
The novelty in our approach lies in its ability to detect single defects in a
macroscopic bulk of material. This class of experiments features ultra-low
energy thresholds which allows for the probing of dark matter as light as
MeV through nuclear scattering. Another feature of defect
creation in crystals is directional information, which presents as a
spectacular signal and a handle on background reduction in the form of daily
modulation of the interaction rate. We discuss the envisioned setup and
detection technique, as well as background reduction. We further calculate the
expected rates for dark matter and solar neutrinos in two example crystals for
which available data exists, demonstrating the prospective sensitivity of such
experiments
A model independent safeguard for unbinned Likelihood
We present a universal method to include residual un-modeled background shape
uncertainties in likelihood based statistical tests for high energy physics and
astroparticle physics. This approach provides a simple and natural protection
against mismodeling, thus lowering the chances of a false discovery or of an
over constrained confidence interval, and allows a natural transition to
unbinned space. Unbinned likelihood allows optimal usage of information for the
data and the models, and enhances the sensitivity.
We show that the asymptotic behavior of the test statistic can be regained in
cases where the model fails to describe the true background behavior, and
present 1D and 2D case studies for model-driven and data-driven background
models. The resulting penalty on sensitivities follows the actual discrepancy
between the data and the models, and is asymptotically reduced to zero with
increasing knowledge
US Cosmic Visions: New Ideas in Dark Matter 2017: Community Report
This white paper summarizes the workshop "U.S. Cosmic Visions: New Ideas in
Dark Matter" held at University of Maryland on March 23-25, 2017.Comment: 102 pages + reference
Recommended from our members
US Cosmic Visions: New Ideas in Dark Matter 2017: Community Report
This white paper summarizes the workshop "U.S. Cosmic Visions: New Ideas in
Dark Matter" held at University of Maryland on March 23-25, 2017