LUX-ZEPLIN

Abstract:

The CRESST Phase II experiment at Gran Sasso is using 300 g scintillating CaWO4 crystals as absorbers for direct WIMP (weakly interactive massive particles) detection. The phonon signal in the CaWO4 crystal is registered in coincidence with the light signal, which is measured with a separate cryogenic light detector. The absorber crystal and the silicon light detector are read out by tungsten superconducting phase transition thermometers (W-SPTs). As a result an active discrimination of the electron recoils against nuclear recoils is achieved. Results on the properties of the detector modules and on the WIMP sensitivity are presented. © 2005 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Abstract:

The inorganic scintillator is an important element of a new type of cryogenic phonon scintillation detectors (CPSD) developed for single particle detection. These detectors exhibiting superior energy resolution and ability to identify the type of interaction event are considered as a next generation instrumentation in the search for extremely rare events. The paper presents the latest results of our study on cryogenic scintillators thought for CPSD application in the search for dark matter. It gives a description of the concept of direct dark matter detection and the operation principles of GPSD. The paper envisages major materials requirements and summarises the results of the studies of luminescence and scintillation properties of tungstates (CaWO 4 and ZnWO4), molybdates (CaMoO4, MgMoO 4, and CdMoO4) and Ti-doped Al2O3 over a wide temperature range (9-300 K).

Abstract:

The ANITA experiment is a balloon-borne radio-pulse detector system designed to measure Ultra-High Energy (UHE) neutrinos interacting in the Antarctic ice utilizing the distinct broadband radio pulse due to the Askaryan effect. The radio-transparent ice serves as a target volume for the production of these pulses. ANITA will have an effective viewing area of over one million km2 of ice at float altitude (∼37 km). A prototype experiment, ANITA-LITE, was flown during the 2003-2004 Austral Summer from Antarctica to perform an impulsive RF background survey of Antarctica. In the process, it has yielded strong constraints on UHE neutrinos, ruling out some theoretical models. We also discuss the expected instrument performance for the first full ANITA flight, planned for a 2006 Austral Summer launch out of McMurdo, Antarctica.

Abstract:

ANITA is a balloon borne radio telescope designed to detect the interactions of ultra-high energy (UHE) neutrinos (> 3x1018 eV) in the Antarctic ice cap. These interactions produce Cherenkov radiation in the form of a distinct broadband radio pulse known as the Askaryan effect. The pure, radio transparent Antarctic ice cap serves as an almost ideal medium for the generation of these pulses and ANITA will have an effective viewing area of one million km2 at float altitude. A prototype experiment, ANITA-LITE was flown during the 2003/2004 Austral summer from Antarctica to do an impulsive RF background survey. We present a discussion of the instrumentation and technique we will use to utilize the ice cap as a detector to measure the UHE neutrino flux.

Abstract:

In the CRESST-II experiment, scintillating CaWO4 crystals are used as absorbers for direct WIMP (weakly interacting massive particles) detection. Nuclear recoils can be discriminated against electron recoils by measuring phonons and scintillation light simultaneously. The absorber crystal and the silicon light detector are read out by tungsten superconducting phase transition thermometers (W-SPTs). Results on the sensitivity of the phonon and the light channel, radiopurity, the scintillation properties of CaWO4 and on the WIMP sensitivity are presented.