Searching for dark matter with liquid argon

Searching for dark matter with liquid argon
Graham Giovanetti, Williams College
Picture of Graham Giovanetti
Date and time: Tue, Oct 19, 2021 - 2:30pm
Location: LGRT 1033
Category: ACFI Seminar
Abstract:

The Global Argon Dark Matter Collaboration is pursuing the construction of ever-larger and more sensitive argon-based detectors to search for dark matter. The collaboration is currently focused on DarkSide-20k, a 20-tonne argon time projection chamber. The success of DarkSide-20k relies on several technological developments, including large-area silicon photomultiplier-based detectors and low-background underground argon. These same technologies are of potential use in DarkSide-LowMass, a tonne-scale time projection chamber that could be optimized to search for WIMP-like dark matter with masses below 10 GeV. I will discuss the current status of DarkSide-20k with emphasis on these novel technologies. Then I will discuss how these same technologies could be employed in DarkSide-LowMass to push sensitivity to a few-GeV WIMP down to the neutrino floor and the R&D needed to build such a detector.