MICROMEGAS IN THE RARE EVENT SEARCHES FIELD

The Micromegas detectors have been gaining importance as reliable options in their implementation to Time Projection Chambers (TPCs) in experiments searching for Rare Events mainly due to their demonstrated good performance regarding low background levels, energy and time resolution, gain and stability of operation. In the present paper, we will briefly review the latest developments carried out within the T-REX project of detector R&D, and the performance achieved in the context of several experiments: the CAST solar axion search experiment, the NEXT experiment of double beta decay and the MIMAC dark matter directional search.

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The DAMA project

International Journal of Modern Physics A ◽

10.1142/s0217751x1642001x ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 31 (31) ◽

pp. 1642001 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

R. Bernabei

Keyword(s):

Dark Matter ◽

Beta Decay ◽

Rare Event ◽

Double Beta Decay ◽

Short Introduction ◽

Low Background ◽

The Past

The DAMA project at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS) of the I.N.F.N. has realized and developed many low background scintillators for rare event searches, as investigation of Dark Matter, double beta decay, etc. A short introduction to the project and a summary of the past and present activities will be given here.

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TIME-PROJECTION-CHAMBERS WITH OPTICAL READOUT FOR DARK MATTER, DOUBLE BETA DECAY, AND NEUTRON MEASUREMENTS

International Journal of Modern Physics A ◽

10.1142/s0217751x10050081 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 25 (24) ◽

pp. 4525-4575 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

S. P. AHLEN

Keyword(s):

Dark Matter ◽

Beta Decay ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Double Beta Decay ◽

Fast Neutrons ◽

Noise Levels ◽

Optical Readout ◽

Time Projection Chambers ◽

Time Projection ◽

Thermal And Fast Neutrons

In recent years, there have been impressive advances in the technology of cameras using charged coupled devices (CCD's) and electron multiplying charged coupled devices (EMCCD's) that make possible a number of applications for the detection of ionizing radiation. The new cameras have quantum efficiencies exceeding 90%, effective noise levels less than one electron per pixel, and can be made to detect light ranging from the ultraviolet to the infrared. When combined with photomultiplier tubes (PMT's), and when used with Time-Projection-Chambers (TPC's) that contain narrow gap mesh charge amplification stages and scintillating gas compositions, these cameras can be used to provide three-dimensional images of particle tracks. There are many applications for such devices, including direction sensitive searches for dark matter, measurements of thermal and fast neutrons, and searches for double-beta-decay. I will describe the operation of optical TPC's and their various applications in this review article.

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Gaseous time projection chambers for rare event detection: results from the T-REX project. I. Double beta decay

Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics ◽

10.1088/1475-7516/2016/01/033 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 (01) ◽

pp. 033-033 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

I.G. Irastorza ◽

F. Aznar ◽

J. Castel ◽

S. Cebrián ◽

T. Dafni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Beta Decay ◽

Event Detection ◽

Rare Event ◽

Double Beta Decay ◽

Time Projection Chambers ◽

Time Projection

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Drift field limitations to the energy resolution in Time Projection Chambers for 136Xe neutrino-less double beta decay search

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A Accelerators Spectrometers Detectors and Associated Equipment ◽

10.1016/j.nima.2011.03.021 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 641 (1) ◽

pp. 87-91 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

P.N.B. Neves ◽

C.A.N. Conde ◽

L.M.N. Távora

Keyword(s):

Beta Decay ◽

Energy Resolution ◽

Double Beta Decay ◽

Drift Field ◽

Time Projection Chambers ◽

Time Projection

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Techniques for Background Identification in the Search for Rare Processes with Crystal Scintillators

Physics ◽

10.3390/physics3020015 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 187-206

Author(s):

Fabio Cappella ◽

Antonella Incicchitti

Keyword(s):

Dark Matter ◽

Beta Decay ◽

Nuclear Physics ◽

National Laboratory ◽

Double Beta Decay ◽

Experimental Techniques ◽

Low Background ◽

Inorganic Crystal ◽

Over Time

In astroparticle, nuclear and subnuclear physics, low-counting experiments play an increasingly important role in the investigation of rare processes such as dark matter, double beta decay, some neutrino processes and low-background spectrometry. Extremely low-background features are more and more required to produce detectors and apparata of suitable sensitivity. Over time, a great deal of interest and attention in developing experimental techniques suitable to improve, verify and maintain the radiopurity of these detectors has arisen. In this paper, the characterization of inorganic crystal scintillators (such as, e.g., NaI(Tl), ZnWO4 and CdWO4) using α, β and γ radioactive sources and the main experimental techniques applied in the field to quantitatively identify the radioactive contaminants are highlighted; in particular, we focus on inorganic crystal scintillators, widely used in rare processes investigation, considering their applications at noncryogenic temperatures in the framework of the DAMA experiment activities at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory of the INFN (National Institute for Nuclear Physics, INFN).

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