학술논문
Exploring light dark matter with the DarkSPHERE spherical proportional counter electroformed underground at the Boulby Underground Laboratory
Document Type
Working Paper
Author
Balogh, L.; Beaufort, C.; Chapellier, M.; Corcoran, E. C.; Coquillat, J. -M.; Dastgheibi-Fard, A.; Deng, Y.; Durnford, D.; Garrah, C.; Gerbier, G.; Giomataris, I.; Giroux, G.; Gorel, P.; Gros, M.; Gros, P.; Guillaudin, O.; Hoppe, E. W.; Katsioulas, I.; Kelly, F.; Knights, P.; Lautridou, P.; Manthos, I.; Martin, R. D.; Matthews, J.; Muraz, J. -F.; Neep, T.; Nikolopoulos, K.; O'Brien, P.; Piro, M. -C.; Rowe, N.; Santos, D.; Savvidis, G.; Savvidis, I.; Fernandez, F. Vazquez de Sola; Ward, R.; Banks, E.; Hamaide, L.; McCabe, C.; Mimasu, K.; Paling, S.
Source
Subject
Language
Abstract
We present the conceptual design and the physics potential of DarkSPHERE, a proposed 3 m in diameter spherical proportional counter electroformed underground at the Boulby Underground Laboratory. This effort builds on the R&D performed and experience acquired by the NEWS-G Collaboration. DarkSPHERE is primarily designed to search for nuclear recoils from light dark matter in the 0.05--10 GeV mass range. Electroforming the spherical shell and the implementation of a shield based on pure water ensures a background level below 0.01 dru. These, combined with the proposed helium-isobutane gas mixture, will provide sensitivity to the spin-independent nucleon cross-section of $2\times 10^{-41} (2\times 10^{-43})$ cm$^2$ for a dark matter mass of $0.1 (1)$ GeV. The use of a hydrogen-rich gas mixture with a natural abundance of $^{13}$C provides sensitivity to spin-dependent nucleon cross-sections more than two orders of magnitude below existing constraints for dark matter lighter than 1 GeV. The characteristics of the detector also make it suitable for searches of other dark matter signatures, including scattering of MeV-scale dark matter with electrons, and super-heavy dark matter with masses around the Planck scale that leave extended ionisation tracks in the detector.
Comment: 19 pages, 14 figures
Comment: 19 pages, 14 figures