Directional statistics for realistic weakly interacting massive particle direct detection experiments

Morgan, B.; Green, Anne M.; Spooner, N. J. C.

doi:10.1103/physrevd.71.103507

Cited by 118 publications

(208 citation statements)

References 70 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

200

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Simulated halos have velocity distributions which deviate systematically from the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution [31][32][33][34][35][36][37]. However, these deviations do not have a large effect on the discovery potential of directional detection experiments [38,39].…”

Section: B Dark Mattermentioning

confidence: 99%

Readout strategies for directional dark matter detection beyond the neutrino background

et al. 2015

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The search for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) by direct detection faces an encroaching background due to coherent neutrino-nucleus scattering. As the sensitivity of these experiments improves, the question of how to best distinguish a dark matter signal from neutrinos will become increasingly important. A proposed method of overcoming this so-called "neutrino floor" is to utilize the directional signature that both neutrino and dark matter induced recoils possess. We show that directional experiments can indeed probe WIMP-nucleon cross-sections below the neutrino floor with little loss in sensitivity due to the neutrino background. In particular we find at low WIMP masses (around 6 GeV) the discovery limits for directional detectors penetrate below the non-directional limit by several orders of magnitude. For high WIMP masses (around 100 GeV), the non-directional limit is overcome by a factor of a few. Furthermore we show that even for directional detectors which can only measure 1-or 2-dimensional projections of the 3-dimensional recoil track, the discovery potential is only reduced by a factor of 3 at most. We also demonstrate that while the experimental limitations of directional detectors, such as sense recognition and finite angular resolution, have a detrimental effect on the discovery limits, it is still possible to overcome the ultimate neutrino background faced by non-directional detectors.PACS numbers: 95.35.+d; 95.85.Pw

show abstract

Section: B Dark Mattermentioning

confidence: 99%

Readout strategies for directional dark matter detection beyond the neutrino background

et al. 2015

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Furthermore, there is the potential to perform WIMP astronomy to determine the true kinematics of particles in the Galactic halo [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Studies of neutron detection and backgrounds with the DRIFT-IIa dark matter detector

Burgos

Forbes

Ghag

et al. 2007

Astroparticle Physics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Data from the DRIFT-IIa directional dark matter experiment are presented, collected during a near continuous 6 month running period. A detailed calibration analysis comparing data from gamma-ray, x-ray and neutron sources to a GEANT4 Monte Carlo simulations reveals an efficiency for detection of neutron induced recoils of 94±2(stat.)±5(sys.)%. Software-based cuts, designed to remove non-nuclear recoil events, are shown to reject 60 Co gamma-rays with a rejection factor of better than 8!10 -6 for all energies above threshold. An unexpected event population has been discovered and is shown here to be due to the alpha-decay of 222 Rn daughter nuclei that have attached to the central cathode. A limit on the flux of neutrons in the Boulby Underground Laboratory is derived from analysis of unshielded and shielded data.

show abstract

“…Instead it measures the recoil track projected onto a plane and has a number of other limitations. A detailed statistical study of a 3 dimensional detector, such as DRIFT II, has been performed [12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing alternatives for directional detection of a halo of weakly interacting massive particles

Copi¹,

Krauss

Simmons-Duffin

et al. 2007

Phys. Rev. D

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The future of direct terrestrial WIMP detection lies on two fronts: new, much larger low background detectors sensitive to energy deposition, and detectors with directional sensitivity. The former can explore a large range of WIMP parameter space using well-tested technology while the latter may be necessary if one is to disentangle particle physics parameters from astrophysical halo parameters. Because directional detectors will be quite difficult to construct it is worthwhile exploring in advance generally which experimental features will yield the greatest benefits at the lowest costs. We examine the sensitivity of directional detectors with varying angular tracking resolution with and without the ability to distinguish forward versus backward recoils, and compare these to the sensitivity of a detector where the track is projected onto a two-dimensional plane. The latter detector regardless of where it is placed on the Earth, can be oriented to produce a significantly better discrimination signal than a 3D detector without this capability, and with sensitivity within a factor of 2 of a full 3D tracking detector. Required event rates to distinguish signals from backgrounds for a simple isothermal halo range from the low teens in the best case to many thousands in the worst.

show abstract

Directional statistics for realistic weakly interacting massive particle direct detection experiments

Cited by 118 publications

References 70 publications

Readout strategies for directional dark matter detection beyond the neutrino background

Readout strategies for directional dark matter detection beyond the neutrino background

Studies of neutron detection and backgrounds with the DRIFT-IIa dark matter detector

Assessing alternatives for directional detection of a halo of weakly interacting massive particles

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About