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T: Fachverband Teilchenphysik

T 19: Search for Dark Matter I

T 19.3: Vortrag

Montag, 31. März 2025, 17:15–17:30, VG 4.102

Simulation of Particle Induced Damage Tracks in Crystal Detectors — •Lukas Scherne and Alexey Elykov — Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute for Astroparticle Physics

A new approach to detecting Dark Matter (DM) involves so-called "Paleo Detectors" (PD)-minerals that may have accumulated DM-induced damage tracks over billions of years. These damage tracks could potentially form when a DM interaction leads to a nuclear recoil in the mineral’s lattice. Modern microscopy techniques could have the potential to image these nanometer-sized features. Additionally, PDs could be used as a new way for the detection and study of neutrinos.
However, there are many research and development challenges to face, before PDs can be realized. A pilot project at the KIT’s Institute for Astroparticle Physics, in collaboration with geologists from Heidelberg University and microscopy experts from KIT’s Laboratory for Electron Microscopy and Institute of Nanotechnology, aims to address several key challenges. In the scope of this project, we aim to perform a series of calibration studies, irradiating a range of mineral samples with ions and neutrons of known energy. These samples will then be imaged and analyzed for the presence of particle-induced damage tracks.
To support these studies, we perform a series of simulations to study track formation and morphology in specific minerals. Ultimately, we seek to establish a clear correlation between the deposited energy and the resulting track morphology.
In this talk, I will report on the current state of these simulation studies and their implications for PDs.

Keywords: Crystal Detectors; Simulation; Dark Matter; Neutrinos; Paleo Detectors