Comissioning of TREX-DM, a low background Micromegas-based Time Projection Chamber for low mass WIMP detection

F. J. Iguaz; J. G. Garza; F. Aznar; J. F. Castel; S. Cebrian; T. Dafni; J. A. Garcia; I. G. Irastorza; A. Lagraba; G. Luzon; A. Peiro

arXiv · 1509.02035

Comissioning of TREX-DM, a low background Micromegas-based Time Projection Chamber for low mass WIMP detection

F. J. Iguaz·J. G. Garza·F. Aznar·J. F. Castel·S. Cebrian·T. Dafni·J. A. Garcia·I. G. Irastorza·A. Lagraba·G. Luzon·A. Peiro

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Abstract

Dark Matter experiments are recently focusing their detection techniques in low-mass WIMPs, which requires the use of light elements and low energy threshold. In this context, we describe the TREX-DM experiment, a low background Micromegas-based Time Projection Chamber for low-mass WIMP detection. Its main goal is the operation of an active detection mass $\sim$0.3 kg, with an energy threshold below 0.4~keVee and fully built with previously selected radiopure materials. This work focuses on the commissioning of the actual setup situated in a laboratory on surface. A preliminary background model of the experiment is also presented, based on Geant4 simulations and two discrimination methods: a conservative muon/electron and one based on a $^{252}$Cf source. Based on this model, TREX-DM could be competitive in the search for low mass WIMPs and, in particular, it could be sensitive to the WIMP interpretation of the DAMA/LIBRA hint.

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F. J. Iguaz, J. G. Garza, F. Aznar, J. F. Castel, S. Cebrian, T. Dafni, J. A. Garcia, I. G. Irastorza, A. Lagraba, G. Luzon, A. Peiro. 2015-09-07. Comissioning of TREX-DM, a low background Micromegas-based Time Projection Chamber for low mass WIMP detection. https://arxiv.org/abs/1509.02035

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