Optical Tests in support of the MiniCLEAN Dark Matter Search
Abstract
The MiniCLEAN experiment will search for WIMP dark matter with a WIMP-nucleon cross section sensitivity of 2 x10-45cm^2. The detector has a fiducial volume of over 150 kg of liquid argon with the capability to be changed to liquid neon for background studies and R&D for a future detector. The MiniCLEAN experiment will be located at SNOLAB in Sudbury, Canada in early 2010. MiniCLEAN will use position reconstruction and the time structure of scintillation light pulses to distinguish signals from backgrounds on an event-by-event basis. The DEAP/CLEAN collaboration has undertaken a suite of R&D projects to characterize the optical train of the experiment: from creation of Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) scintillation light in the liquid cryogen, to the down-scatter of of EUV to visible light by wavelength shifting films, and the collection visible light by photomultiplier tubes operating at low-temperatures. We present these efforts in the context of previous measurements as well as outline our current experimental program and its future direction in support of MiniCLEAN.
- Publication:
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APS Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- October 2009
- Bibcode:
- 2009APS..HAW.KJ003S