Searching for WIMPs with TREX-DM: achievements and challenges

Castel, J. F. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Cebrián, S. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Dafni, T. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Díez Ibáñez, D. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Ezquerro, A. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Galán, J. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; García, J. A. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; García Irastorza, Igor (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Jiménez, M. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Luzón, G. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Margalejo, C. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Mira, Ángel de (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Mirallas, H. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Obis, L. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Ortiz de Solórzano, A. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Pérez, O. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Ruz, J. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Vogel, J. (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: The TREX-DM detector, a low background chamber with microbulk Micromegas readout, was commissioned in the Canfranc Underground Laboratory (LSC) in 2018. Since then, data taking campaigns have been carried out with argon and neon mixtures, at different pressures from 1 to 4 bar. By achieving a low energy threshold of 1 keVee and a background level of 80 counts keV-1 kg-1 day-1 in the region from 1 to 7 keVee, the experiment demonstrates its potential to search for low-mass WIMPs. Two of the most important challenges currently faced are the reduction of both, background level and energy threshold. With respect to the energy threshold, recently a new readout plane is being developed, based on the combination of Micromegas and GEM technologies, aiming to have a pre-amplification stage that would permit very low energy thresholds, close to the single-electron ionization energy. With respect to the background reduction, apart from studies to identify and minimize contamination population, a high sensitivity alpha detector is being developed in order to allow a proper material selection for the TREX-DM detector components. Both challenges, together with the optimization of the gas mixture used as target for the WIMP detection, will take TREX-DM to explore regions of WIMP's mass below 1 GeV c-2.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1088/1748-0221/19/05/C05029

Año: 2024

Publicado en: Journal of Instrumentation 19, 05 (2024), C05029 [9 p.]
ISSN: 1748-0221

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/H2020/788781/EU/Towards the detection of the axion with the International Axion Observatory/IAXOplus
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MINECO/PID2019-108122GB-C31

Tipo y forma: Article (PostPrint)

Área (Departamento): Proy. investigación HCA (Dpto. Física Teórica)
Área (Departamento): Área Física Atóm.Molec.y Nucl. (Dpto. Física Teórica)