Developing a search for an annual modulation of atmospheric aerosols as a possible explanation for the DAMA dark matter signal
Abstract
If dark matter interacts weakly then one possible experimental signal would be an annual modulation in the interaction rate caused by the combined motion of the sun and earth moving through the dark matter halo. The DAMA-LIBRA experiment has observed such a modulation in their detector in a way not described by known modulating backgrounds such as atmospheric muon rate (thickness/density of atmosphere), radon gas, or solar neutrino interactions (apogee/perigee effect). We describe the prototype development of a device to collect aerosols on a daily basis to search for modulations of atmospheric concentrations of elements which have naturally occurring radioactive isotopes, such as potassium. Depending on the size of the effect, this modulation could theoretically be misinterpreted as a dark matter signal. Preliminary data analyses will be presented and future efforts will be discussed.
This work has been supported in part by the Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (CURCA) at Siena College and Tech Valley Scholars, an NSF-funded program (Award # 1356379) at Siena College.- Publication:
-
APS April Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019APS..APRE01035B