Speaker
Description
Despite the recent advances in physics, Dark Matter (DM) still eludes detection by modern large-scale experiments and puzzles the minds of physicists. Paleo-detectors represent a drastically different approach to DM detection, which necessitates the use of microscopy and computational techniques to read out and analyze nm-sized damage features produced by interactions of DM particles and neutrinos with nuclei of ancient minerals.
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) possesses a wide range of cutting edge nm-scale manipulation and imaging technologies, including among others AFM, FIB-SEM, TEM, and HIM. Additionally, KIT has several institutes with expertise in geology, data acquisition, and processing. Hence, KIT is uniquely positioned to facilitate close cooperation between state-of-the-art microscopy research, geology, computer science, and astroparticle physics, making it the perfect place for a paleo-detectors project.
At present, we aim to conduct several key feasibility and calibration studies for the use of minerals as paleo-detectors. To that end, we have established a dedicated small-scale laboratory equipped with a high-temperature furnace and ancillary tools. Additionally, we have obtained several samples, which will be irradiated with low- and high-energy particles, giving rise to a variety of damage features and tracks. Subsequently, we will cooperate with KIT microscopy facilities to read out the resulting damage tracks with a number of high-resolution microscopy techniques. In this talk, the latest developments in the paleo-detector program at KIT will be presented.
