The DRIFT-I dark matter detector at Boulby: design, installation and operation

Alner, G. J.; Araújo, H. M.; Ayad, R.; Bewick, A.; Burwell, J.; Carson, M.; Chen, C.; Davies, Julia; Dawson, J.; Gamble, T.; García, M. A.; Heidecker, Jason; Howard, Alex; Katz-Hyman, M.; Jones, W. G.; Kirkpatrick, J.; Kudryavtsev, V. A.; Lawson, T. B.; Lebedenko, V.N.; Lehner, M. J.; Lewin, J.D.; Lightfoot, P. K.; Liubarsky, I.; Lüscher, R.; McMillan, J. E.; Martoff, C. J.; Morgan, B.; Mulholland, J.; Nicklin, G.; Ohnuki, T.; Paling, S. M.; Petkov, A.; Preece, R.; Quenby, J. J.; Roberts, John W.; Robinson, M.; Rykoff, E. S.; Sanders, A.J.; Snowden‐Ifft, D.; Smith, N. J. T.; Smith, P.F.; Spooner, N. J. C.; Sumner, T. J.; Tovey, D. R.; Villaume, N.; Walker, R. J.

doi:10.1016/j.nima.2004.06.172

Cited by 24 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…With the advent of directional detectors [2] using CS 2 , CF 4 or 3 He, such as DRIFT [3], DMTPC [4], NEWAGE [5] and MIMAC [6], the observation of other dark matter signatures becomes possible. Because dark matter WIMPs arrive to us from a preferential direction, one expects an anisotropy in the recoil event rate [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ring-like features in directional dark matter detection

Bozorgnia¹,

Gelmini²,

Gondolo

2012

J. Cosmol. Astropart. Phys.

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We discuss a novel dark matter signature relevant for directional detection of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs). For heavy enough WIMPs and low enough recoil energies, the maximum of the recoil rate is not in the direction of the average WIMP arrival direction but in a ring around it at an angular radius that increases with the WIMP mass and can approach 90 • at very low energies. The ring is easier to detect for smaller WIMP velocity dispersion and larger average WIMP velocities relative to the detector. In principle the ring could be used as an additional indication of the WIMP mass range.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ring-like features in directional dark matter detection

Bozorgnia¹,

Gelmini²,

Gondolo

2012

J. Cosmol. Astropart. Phys.

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“…The integrated counts over Galactic hemispheres separated by planes perpendicular to Earth's orbit would modulate annually, resulting in Galactic Hemisphere Annual Modulations (GHAM), with amplitudes larger than the usual non-directional annual modulation. The Galactic hemispheres with the largest GHAM are those divided by planes perpendicular to the Earth's orbital velocity when V lab is maximum (see figures 8,9). In this case the full orbital velocity is in the direction of one hemisphere at one time and away from it six months later.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In directional detectors [2], the two dark matter signatures easiest to detect are first a departure from isotropy of the recoil directions with respect to the Galaxy, and second an average recoil direction in the direction of −V lab [3][4][5][6][7][8]. Directional detectors, such as DRIFT [9], DMTPC [10], NEWAGE [11] and MIMAC [12] use CS 2 , CF 4 , 3 He or other compounds. Refs.…”

Section: Jcap08(2012)011mentioning

confidence: 99%

Aberration features in directional dark matter detection

Bozorgnia¹,

Gelmini²,

Gondolo

2012

J. Cosmol. Astropart. Phys.

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Abstract. The motion of the Earth around the Sun causes an annual change in the magnitude and direction of the arrival velocity of dark matter particles on Earth, in a way analogous to aberration of stellar light. In directional detectors, aberration of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) modulates the pattern of nuclear recoil directions in a way that depends on the orbital velocity of the Earth and the local galactic distribution of WIMP velocities. Knowing the former, WIMP aberration can give information on the latter, besides being a curious way of confirming the revolution of the Earth and the extraterrestrial provenance of WIMPs. While observing the full aberration pattern requires extremely large exposures, we claim that the annual variation of the mean recoil direction or of the event counts over specific solid angles may be detectable with moderately large exposures. For example, integrated counts over Galactic hemispheres separated by planes perpendicular to Earth's orbit would modulate annually, resulting in Galactic Hemisphere Annual Modulations (GHAM) with amplitudes larger than the usual non-directional annual modulation.

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“…The collaboration has been developing and deploying dark matter detectors since the early 1990s. Results from early generations of detectors have already been published and these include NaI single crystals [1], the NAIAD array of NaI crystals [2] and first generations of DRIFT [3] and ZEPLIN [4].…”

Section: Experiments Statusmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…DRIFT I was a technology demonstrator which successfully proved discrimination against gamma and alpha backgrounds and directionality capability (at high energy). A number of technical problems were identified and resolved and the detector achieved safe and stable operations underground [3]. With it we were able to study the ambient neutron background in Boulby.…”

Section: Driftmentioning

confidence: 99%

Direct Dark Matter Searches - UKDMC

Sumner¹

2007

Proceedings of International Europhysics Conference on High Energy Physics — PoS(HEP2005)

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Three new direct dark matter detection experiments are nearing operations within our collaboration. DRIFT II is a next generation modular gas time projection chamber designed to demonstrate directionality with a scalable technology. The first module of this is operational in our underground laboratory at Boulby. ZEPLINs II and III are next generation liquid time projection chambers offering simultaneous measurement of scintillation and charge from liquid xenon. These two instruments will provide sensitivities into the 10 −8 pb range. ZEPLIN II is just beginning science operations underground at Boulby. ZEPLIN III is in a final assembly in a surface laboratory. Our programme status will be presented.

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The DRIFT-I dark matter detector at Boulby: design, installation and operation

Cited by 24 publications

References 15 publications

Ring-like features in directional dark matter detection

Ring-like features in directional dark matter detection

Aberration features in directional dark matter detection

Direct Dark Matter Searches - UKDMC

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