arXiv subjects

D. -M. Mei

Publications and source records attributed to D. -M. Mei.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2017

Direct Detection of MeV-Scale Dark Matter Utilizing Germanium Internal Amplification for the Charge Created by the Ionization of Impurities

Light, MeV-scale dark matter (DM) is an exciting DM candidate that is undetectable by current experiments. A germanium (Ge) detector utilizing internal charge amplification for the charge carriers created by the ionization of impurities is a promising new technology with experimental sensitivity for detecting MeV-scale DM. We analyze the physics mechanisms of the signal formation, charge creation, charge internal amplification, and the projected sensitivity for directly detecting MeV-scale DM particles. We present a design for a novel Ge detector at helium temperature ($\sim$4 K) enabling ionization of impurities from DM impacts. With large localized E-fields, the ionized excitations can be accelerated to kinetic energies larger than the Ge bandgap at which point they can create additional electron-hole pairs, producing intrinsic amplification to achieve an ultra-low energy threshold of $\sim$0.1 eV for detecting low-mass DM particles in the MeV scale. Correspondingly, such a Ge detector with 1 kg-year exposure will have high sensitivity to a DM-nucleon cross section of $\sim$5$\times$10$^{-45}$ cm$^{2}$ at a DM mass of $\sim$10 MeV/c$^{2}$ and a DM-electron cross section of $\sim$5$\times$10$^{-46}$cm$^{2}$ at a DM mass of $\sim$1 MeV/c$^2$.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2017

Observation of annual modulation induced by $γ$ rays from ($α$, $γ$) reactions at the Soudan Underground Laboratory

Annual modulation of $γ$ rays from ($α$, $γ$) reactions in the Soudan Underground Lab has been observed using a 12-liter scintillation detector. This significant annual modulation, measured over 4 years, can mimic the signature for dark matter and can also generate potential background events for neutrinoless double-$β$ decay experiments. The measured annual modulation of the event rate from ($α$, $γ$) reactions is strongly correlated with the time-varying radon concentration observed independently in the Lab. The $α$ flux from radon decay is simulated starting from the measured radon concentration, and the $γ$-ray flux is determined using the convolution of the $α$ flux and the cross sections for ($α$, $γ$) reactions. The calculated $γ$-ray flux is sufficient to generate the measured event rate that exhibits an annual modulation.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2017

The impact of neutral impurity concentration on charge drift mobility in n-type germanium

The impact of neutral impurity scattering of electrons on the charge drift mobility in high purity n-type germanium crystals at 77 Kelvin is investigated. We calculated the contributions from ionized impurity scattering, lattice scattering, and neutral impurity scattering to the total charge drift mobility using theoretical models. The experimental data such as charge carrier concentration, mobility and resistivity are measured by Hall Effect system at 77 Kelvin. The neutral impurity concentration is derived from the Matthiessen's rule using the measured Hall mobility and ionized impurity concentration. The radial distribution of the neutral impurity concentration in the self-grown crystals is determined. Consequently, we demonstrated that neutral impurity scattering is a significant contribution to the charge drift mobility, which has a dependence on the concentration of neutral impurities in high purity n-type germanium crystal.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2017

Impact of Low-Energy Response to Nuclear Recoils in Dark Matter Detectors

We report an absolute energy response function to electronic and nuclear recoils for germanium and liquid xenon detectors. As a result, we show that the detection energy threshold of nuclear recoils for a dual-phase xenon detector can be a few keV for a given number of detectable photoelectrons. We evaluate the average energy expended per electron-hole pair to be $\sim$3.32 eV, which sets a detection energy threshold of $\sim$2.15 keV for a germanium detector at 50 mini-Kelvin at 69 volts with a primary phonon frequency of 1 THz. The Fano factors of nuclear and electronic recoils that constrain the capability for discriminating nuclear recoils below 2-3 keV recoil energy for both technologies are different.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2017

A Comprehensive Study of Low-Energy Response for Xenon-Based Dark Matter Experiments

We report a comprehensive study of the energy response to low-energy recoils in dual-phase xenon-based dark matter experiments. A recombination model is developed to explain the recombination probability as a function of recoil energy at zero field and non-zero field. The role of e-ion recombination is discussed for both parent recombination and volume recombination. We find that the volume recombination under non-zero field is constrained by a plasma effect, which is caused by a high density of charge carriers along the ionization track forming a plasma-like cloud of charge that shields the interior from the influence of the external electric field. Subsequently, the plasma time that determines the volume recombination probability at non-zero field is demonstrated to be different between electronic recoils and nuclear recoils due to the difference of ionization density between two processes. We show a weak field-dependence of the plasma time for nuclear recoils and a stronger field-dependence of the plasma time for electronic recoils. As a result, the time-dependent recombination is implemented in the determination of charge and light yield with a generic model. Our model agrees well with the available experimental data from xenon-based dark matter experiments.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2016

Average Energy Expended Per e-h Pair and Energy Scale Function for Germanium-Based Dark Matter Experiments

We report a new result of the temperature-dependent average energy expended per electron-hole (e-h) pair, $\varepsilon$, for germanium detectors. Applying energy partition mechanism in ionization for a given energy deposition, the Fano factor and the value of $\varepsilon$ can be determined separately. Subsequently, we illustrate the variation of $\varepsilon$ as a function of temperature. The impact of $\varepsilon$ on the energy threshold and energy scale for germanium detectors at a given temperature is evaluated. We demonstrate an absolute energy scale function of low-energy recoils for germanium detectors in the direct detection of dark matter particles.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2016

The impact of neutral impurity concentration on charge drift mobility in germanium

We reported a new result of the neutral impurity scattering of holes that has impact on the charge drift mobility in high purity p-type germanium crystals at 77 Kelvin. The charge carrier concentration, mobility and resistivity are measured by Hall Effect system at 77 Kelvin. We investigated the contribution to the total charge drift mobility from ionized impurity scattering, lattice scattering, and neutral impurity scattering with the best theoretical models and experimental data. Several samples with measured Hall mobility from the grown crystals are used for this investigation. With the measured Hall mobility and ionized impurity concentration as well as the theoretical models, we calculated the neutral impurity concentration by the Matthiessen's rule. As a result, the distributions of the neutral impurity concentrations with respect to the radius of the crystals are obtained. Consequently, we demonstrated that neutral impurity scattering is a significant contribution to the charge drift mobility, which has dependence on the concentration of neutral impurities in a given germanium crystal.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2016

Signal yields, energy resolution, and recombination fluctuations in liquid xenon

This work presents an analysis of monoenergetic electronic recoil peaks in the dark-matter-search and calibration data from the first underground science run of the Large Underground Xenon (LUX) detector. Liquid xenon charge and light yields for electronic recoil energies between 5.2 and 661.7 keV are measured, as well as the energy resolution for the LUX detector at those same energies. Additionally, there is an interpretation of existing measurements and descriptions of electron-ion recombination fluctuations in liquid xenon as limiting cases of a more general liquid xenon re- combination fluctuation model. Measurements of the standard deviation of these fluctuations at monoenergetic electronic recoil peaks exhibit a linear dependence on the number of ions for energy deposits up to 661.7 keV, consistent with previous LUX measurements between 2-16 keV with $^3$H. We highlight similarities in liquid xenon recombination for electronic and nuclear recoils with a comparison of recombination fluctuations measured with low-energy calibration data.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2016

Cosmogenic Activation of Materials Used in Rare Event Search Experiments

We evaluate the cosmogenic production rates in some materials that are commonly used as targets and shielding/supporting components for detecting rare events. The results from Geant4 simulations are compared with the calculations of ACTIVIA and the available experimental data. We demonstrate that the production rates from the Geant4-based simulations agree with the available data reasonably well. As a result, we report that the cosmogenic production of several isotopes in various materials can generate potential backgrounds for direct detection of dark matter and neutrinoless double-beta decay.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2016

Discrimination of nuclear and electronic recoil events using plasma effect in germanium detectors

We report a new method of using the plasma time difference, which results from the plasma effect, between the nuclear and electronic recoil events in high-purity germanium detectors to distinguish these two types of events in the search for rare physics processes. The physics mechanism of the plasma effect is discussed in detail. A numerical model is developed to calculate the plasma time for nuclear and electronic recoils at various energies in germanium detectors. It can be shown that under certain conditions the plasma time difference is large enough to be observable. The experimental aspects in realizing such a discrimination in germanium detectors is discussed.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2016

FPGA-based Trigger System for the LUX Dark Matter Experiment

LUX is a two-phase (liquid/gas) xenon time projection chamber designed to detect nuclear recoils resulting from interactions with dark matter particles. Signals from the detector are processed with an FPGA-based digital trigger system that analyzes the incoming data in real-time, with just a few microsecond latency. The system enables first pass selection of events of interest based on their pulse shape characteristics and 3D localization of the interactions. It has been shown to be >99% efficient in triggering on S2 signals induced by only few extracted liquid electrons. It is continuously and reliably operating since its full underground deployment in early 2013. This document is an overview of the systems capabilities, its inner workings, and its performance.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2014

Improving Photoelectron Counting and Particle Identification in Scintillation Detectors with Bayesian Techniques

Many current and future dark matter and neutrino detectors are designed to measure scintillation light with a large array of photomultiplier tubes (PMTs). The energy resolution and particle identification capabilities of these detectors depend in part on the ability to accurately identify individual photoelectrons in PMT waveforms despite large variability in pulse amplitudes and pulse pileup. We describe a Bayesian technique that can identify the times of individual photoelectrons in a sampled PMT waveform without deconvolution, even when pileup is present. To demonstrate the technique, we apply it to the general problem of particle identification in single-phase liquid argon dark matter detectors. Using the output of the Bayesian photoelectron counting algorithm described in this paper, we construct several test statistics for rejection of backgrounds for dark matter searches in argon. Compared to simpler methods based on either observed charge or peak finding, the photoelectron counting technique improves both energy resolution and particle identification of low energy events in calibration data from the DEAP-1 detector and simulation of the larger MiniCLEAN dark matter detector.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2014

Measuring Muon-Induced Neutrons with Liquid Scintillation Detector at Soudan Mine

We report a direct detection of muon-induced high energy neutrons with a 12-liter neutron detector fabricated with EJ-301 liquid scintillator operating at Soudan Mine for about two years. The detector response to energy from a few MeV up to $\sim$ 20 MeV has been calibrated using radioactive sources and cosmic-ray muons. Subsequently, we have calculated the scintillation efficiency for nuclear recoils, up to a few hundred MeV, using Birks' law in the Monte Carlo simulation. Data from an exposure of 655.1 days were analyzed and neutron-induced recoil events were observed in the energy region from 4 MeV to 50 MeV, corresponding to fast neutrons with kinetic energy up to a few hundred MeV, depending on the scattering angle. Combining with the Monte Carlo simulation, the muon-induced fast neutron flux is determined to be $(2.3 \pm 0.52 (sta.) \pm 0.99 (sys.) ) \times10^{-9}$ cm$^{-2}$s$^{-1}$ (E$_{n}$ $>$ 20 MeV), in a reasonable agreement with the model prediction. The muon flux is found to be ($1.65\pm 0.02 (sta.) \pm 0.1 (sys.) ) \times10^{-7}$ cm$^{-2}$s$^{-1}$ (E$_μ$ $>$ 1 GeV), consistent with other measurements. As a result, the muon-induced high energy gamma-ray flux is simulated to be 7.08 $\times$10$^{-7}$cm$^{-2}$s$^{-1}$ (E$_γ$ $>$ 1 MeV) for the depth of Soudan.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2014

Update on the MiniCLEAN Dark Matter Experiment

The direct search for dark matter is entering a period of increased sensitivity to the hypothetical Weakly Interacting Massive Particle (WIMP). One such technology that is being examined is a scintillation only noble liquid experiment, MiniCLEAN. MiniCLEAN utilizes over 500 kg of liquid cryogen to detect nuclear recoils from WIMP dark matter and serves as a demonstration for a future detector of order 50 to 100 tonnes. The liquid cryogen is interchangeable between argon and neon to study the A$^{2}$ dependence of the potential signal and examine backgrounds. MiniCLEAN utilizes a unique modular design with spherical geometry to maximize the light yield using cold photomultiplier tubes in a single-phase detector. Pulse shape discrimination techniques are used to separate nuclear recoil signals from electron recoil backgrounds. MiniCLEAN will be spiked with additional $^{39}$Ar to demonstrate the effective reach of the pulse shape discrimination capability. Assembly of the experiment is underway at SNOLAB and an update on the project is given.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2014

Radiogenic and Muon-Induced Backgrounds in the LUX Dark Matter Detector

The Large Underground Xenon (LUX) dark matter experiment aims to detect rare low-energy interactions from Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs). The radiogenic backgrounds in the LUX detector have been measured and compared with Monte Carlo simulation. Measurements of LUX high-energy data have provided direct constraints on all background sources contributing to the background model. The expected background rate from the background model for the 85.3 day WIMP search run is $(2.6\pm0.2_{\textrm{stat}}\pm0.4_{\textrm{sys}})\times10^{-3}$~events~keV$_{ee}^{-1}$~kg$^{-1}$~day$^{-1}$ in a 118~kg fiducial volume. The observed background rate is $(3.6\pm0.4_{\textrm{stat}})\times10^{-3}$~events~keV$_{ee}^{-1}$~kg$^{-1}$~day$^{-1}$, consistent with model projections. The expectation for the radiogenic background in a subsequent one-year run is presented.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2014

A Detailed Look at the First Results from the Large Underground Xenon (LUX) Dark Matter Experiment

LUX, the world's largest dual-phase xenon time-projection chamber, with a fiducial target mass of 118 kg and 10,091 kg-days of exposure thus far, is currently the most sensitive direct dark matter search experiment. The initial null-result limit on the spin-independent WIMP-nucleon scattering cross-section was released in October 2013, with a primary scintillation threshold of 2 phe, roughly 3 keVnr for LUX. The detector has been deployed at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in Lead, South Dakota, and is the first experiment to achieve a limit on the WIMP cross-section lower than $10^{-45}$ cm$^{2}$. Here we present a more in-depth discussion of the novel energy scale employed to better understand the nuclear recoil light and charge yields, and of the calibration sources, including the new internal tritium source. We found the LUX data to be in conflict with low-mass WIMP signal interpretations of other results.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2014

First results from the LUX dark matter experiment at the Sanford Underground Research Facility

The Large Underground Xenon (LUX) experiment, a dual-phase xenon time-projection chamber operating at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (Lead, South Dakota), was cooled and filled in February 2013. We report results of the first WIMP search dataset, taken during the period April to August 2013, presenting the analysis of 85.3 live-days of data with a fiducial volume of 118 kg. A profile-likelihood analysis technique shows our data to be consistent with the background-only hypothesis, allowing 90% confidence limits to be set on spin-independent WIMP-nucleon elastic scattering with a minimum upper limit on the cross section of $7.6 \times 10^{-46}$ cm$^{2}$ at a WIMP mass of 33 GeV/c$^2$. We find that the LUX data are in strong disagreement with low-mass WIMP signal interpretations of the results from several recent direct detection experiments.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2013

Measuring Double-Electron Capture with Liquid Xenon Experiments

We investigate the possibilities of observing the decay mode for $^{124}$Xe in which two electrons are captured, two neutrinos are emitted, and the final daughter nucleus is in its ground state, using dark matter experiments with liquid xenon. The first upper limit of the decay half-life is calculated to be 1.66$\times10^{21}$ years at a 90% confidence level (C.L.) obtained with the published background data from the XENON100 experiment. Employing a known background model from the Large Underground Xenon (LUX) experiment, we predict that the detection of double-electron capture of $^{124}$Xe to the ground state of $^{124}$Te with LUX will have approximately 115 events, assuming a half-life of 2.9 $\times$ 10$^{21}$ years. We conclude that measuring $^{124}$Xe 2$ν$ double-electron capture to the ground state of $^{124}$Te can be performed more precisely with the proposed LUX-Zeplin (LZ) experiment.

nucl-ex↗