Bonn 2020 – scientific programme

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T: Fachverband Teilchenphysik

T 76: Dark Matter III

T 76.3: Talk

Thursday, April 2, 2020, 17:00–17:15, H-HS XIV

Direct search for modulated Dark Matter signals with XENON1T — •Lutz Althüser for the XENON collaboration — Institut für Kernphysik, WWU Münster

The XENON Dark Matter Project uses a dual-phase xenon time projection chamber (TPC) to directly search for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs). Dark Matter particles are expected to scatter off xenon nuclei in the active detector region, leading to nuclear and electronic recoils. Both recoil types can be detected as light signals in the TPC. The measured Dark Matter count rate is expected to modulate with a certain amplitude and phase.

The concept of annual modulation assumes that Dark Matter exists as a spherical and non-rotating halo in which the Earth and Sun are contained. Given the relative movement of the Sun, Earth and galactic center, one would expect a time-dependent WIMP interaction count rate. Using this time dependent signature of the count rate could provide an additional background discrimination, one of the biggest challenges of any direct detection Dark Matter experiment.

The talk will give an introduction to the characteristics of the event rate modulation, assuming the Standard Halo Model, the current status of direct searches in the field and perspectives for the XENON1T experiment.

The work of the author is supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) through the Research Training Group "GRK 2149: Strong and Weak Interactions - from Hadrons to Dark Matter".