Scintillating NaI(Tl) crystals are used for various rare decay experiments, such as dark matter searches. The hygroscopicity of NaI(Tl) crystal makes the construction of crystal detectors in these experiments challenging and requires a tight encapsulation to prevent from air contact. More importantly, in a low radioactivity measurement, identification of external radiations and surface contamination is crucial to characterize the origin of total crystal radioactivities. Studies for NaI(Tl) crystal encapsulation with active organic scintillator vetoes have been performed to mitigate the above-mentioned issues simultaneously. A bare crystal is directly coupled with liquid and plastic scintillators to tag external radiations that penetrate from the outer part of the crystal. We report the pulse shape discrimination for organic scintillator pulses from those of the crystal scintillator in a single detector setup which makes external gammas identifiable and long-term stability tests of the detector setup.
The dark matter search project by means of ultra high purity NaI(Tl) scintillator is now underdevelopment. An array of large volume NaI(Tl) detectors whose volume is 12.7 cm$ϕ\times$12.7 cm is applied to search for dark matter signal. To remove radioactive impurities in NaI(Tl) crystal is one of the most important task to find small number of dark matter signals. We have developed high purity NaI(Tl) crystal which contains small amounts of radioactive impurities, $<4$ ppb of $^{nat}$K, 0.3 ppt of Th chain, 58 $μ$Bq/kg of $^{226}$Ra and 30 $μ$Bq/kg of $^{210}$Pb. Future prospects to search for …
A high purity and large volume NaI(Tl) scintillator was developed to search for cosmic dark matter. The required densities of radioactive impurities (RIs) such as U-chain, Th-chain are less than a few ppt to establish high sensitivity to dark matter. The impurity of RIs were effectively reduced by selecting raw materials of crucible and by performing chemical reduction of lead ion in NaI raw powder. The impurity of $^{226}$Ra was reduced less than 100 $μ$Bq/kg in NaI(Tl) crystal. It should be remarked that the impurity of $^{210}$Pb, which is difficult to reduce, is effectively reduced by chem…
A dark matter search project needs and extremely low background radiation detector since the expected event rate of dark matter is less than a few events in one year in one tonne of the detector mass. The authors developed a highly radiopure NaI(Tl) crystal to search for dark matter. The best combination of the purification methods was developed, resulting $^{\mathrm{nat}}$K and $^{210}$Pb were less than 20 ppb and 5.7 $μ$Bq/kg, respectively. The authors will construct a large volume detector system with high-purity NaI(Tl) crystals. The design and the performance of the prototype detector mod…
The highly radiopure NaI(Tl) was developed to search for particle candidates of dark matter. The optimized methods were combined to reduce various radioactive impurities. The $^{40}$K was effectively reduced by the re-crystallization method. The progenies of the decay chains of uranium and thorium were reduced by appropriate resins. The concentration of natural potassium in NaI(Tl) crystal was reduced down to 20 ppb. Concentrations of alpha-ray emitters were successfully reduced by appropriate selection of resin. The present concentration of thorium series and 226Ra were $1.2 \pm1.4$ $μ$Bq/kg …
We report the performance of an active veto system using a liquid scintillator with NaI(Tl) crystals for use in a dark matter search experiment. When a NaI(Tl) crystal is immersed in the prototype detector, the detector tags 48% of the internal K-40 background in the 0-10 keV energy region. We also determined the tagging efficiency for events at 6-20 keV as 26.5 +/- 1.7% of the total events, which corresponds to 0.76 +/- 0.04 events/keV/kg/day. According to a simulation, approximately 60% of the background events from U, Th, and K radioisotopes in photomultiplier tubes are tagged at energies o…
Solar-axion interaction rates in NaI, CsI and Xe scintillators via the axio-electric effect were calculated. A table is presented with photoelectric and axioelectric cross sections, solar-axion fluxes, and the interaction rates from 2.0 to 10.0 keV. The results imply that annual-modulation data of large NaI and CsI arrays, and large Xe scintillation chambers, might be made sensitive enough to probe coupling to photons at levels required to explain axion-photon oscillation phenomena proposed to explain the survival of high-energy photons traveling cosmological distances. The DAMAA/LIBRA data ar…
Among the top priorities for high-energy astronomy in the coming decade are sensitive surveys in the hard X-ray/soft γ-ray (10-600 keV) and medium-energy γ-ray (0.2-80 MeV) bands. Historically, observations in the soft and medium energy γ-ray bands have been conducted using detectors based on inorganic scintillators read out by photo-multiplier tubes (PMTs). These observations were limited by the modest energy and time resolution of traditional scintillator materials (e.g. NaI and CsI), and by the demands on mission resources imposed by the bulky, fragile, high-voltage PMTs. Recent technologic…
Thin and large area NaI(Tl) scintillator to search for WIMPs dark matter was developed. The performance of thin and wide area NaI(Tl) showed good enough to search for dark matter. The energy threshold was as low as 2keV and the energy resolution was about 24% in FWHM at 60keV.
This paper describes the liquid scintillator veto system for the COSINE-100 dark matter experiment and its performance. The COSINE-100 detector consists of eight NaI(Tl) crystals immersed in 2200~L of linear alkylbenzene-based liquid scintillator. The liquid scintillator tags between 65 and 75\% of the internal $^{40}$K background in the 2--6 keV energy region. We also describe the background model for the liquid scintillator, which is primarily used to assess its energy calibration and threshold.
ANAIS (Annual modulation with NaI Scintillators) is a dark matter direct detection experiment located at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory (LSC), in Spain. The goal is to confirm or refute in a model independent way the DAMA/LIBRA positive result: an annual modulation in the low-energy detection rate compatible with the expected signal induced by dark matter particles in the galactic halo. This signal, observed for about 20 years, is in strong tension with the negative results of other very sensitive experiments, but a direct comparison using the same target material, NaI(Tl), was still lack…
PICOLON (Pure Inorganic Crystal Observatory for LOw-energy Neutr(al)ino) aims to search for cosmic dark matter by high purity NaI(Tl) scintillator. We developed extremely pure NaI(Tl) crystal by hybrid purification method. The recent result of $^{210}$Pb in our NaI(Tl) is less than 5.7 $μ$Bq/kg. We will report the test experiment in the low-background measurement at Kamioka Underground Laboratory. The sensitivity for annual modulating signals and finding dark matter particles will be discussed.
The annual modulation measured by the DAMA/LIBRA experiment can be explained by the interaction of dark matter WIMPs in NaI(Tl) scintillator detectors. Other experiments, with different targets or techniques, exclude the region of parameters singled out by DAMA/LIBRA, but the comparison of their results relies on several hypotheses regarding the dark matter model. ANAIS-112 is a dark matter search with 112.5 kg of NaI(Tl) scintillators under commissioning at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory (LSC) to test the DAMA/LIBRA result in a model independent way. We analyze its prospects in terms of …
ANAIS (Annual modulation with NAI Scintillators) experiment aims to look for dark matter annual modulation with 250 kg of ultrapure NaI(Tl) scintillators at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory (LSC), in order to confirm the DAMA/LIBRA positive signal in a model-independent way. The detector will consist in an array of close-packed single modules, each of them coupled to two high efficiency Hamamatsu photomultipliers. Two 12.5 kg each NaI(Tl) crystals provided by Alpha Spectra are currently taking data at the LSC. These modules have shown an outstanding light collection efficiency (12-16 phe/ke…
The PICO-LON project aims at search for cold dark matter by means of highly radio-pure and large volume NaI(Tl) scintillator. The NaI powder was purifed by chemical processing to remove lead isotopes and selecting a high purity graphite crucible. The concentrations of radioactive impurities of $^{226}$Ra and $^{228}$Th were effectively reduced to 58$\pm$4 $μ$Bq/kg and 1.5$\pm$1.9 $μ$Bq/kg, respectively. It should be remarked that the concentration of $^{210}$Pb, which is crucial for the sensitivity to dark matter, was reduced to 24$\pm$2 $μ$Bq/kg. The total background rate at 10 keVee was as l…
Dark matter particles scattering off some target nuclei are expected to deposit very small energies in form of nuclear recoils (below 100 keV). Because of the low scintillation efficiency for nuclear recoils vs. electron recoils, in most of the scintillating targets considered in the search for dark matter, the region below 10 keVee concentrates most of the expected dark matter signal. For this reason, very low energy threshold (at or below 2 keVee) and very low background are required. This is the case of the ANAIS (Annual modulation with NaI Scintillators) experiment. A good knowledge of the…
The annual modulation measured by the DAMA/LIBRA experiment can be explained by the interaction of dark matter WIMPs in NaI(Tl) scintillator detectors. Other experiments, with different targets or techniques, exclude the region of parameters singled out by DAMA/LIBRA, but the comparison of their results relies on several hypotheses regarding the dark matter model. ANAIS-112 is a dark matter search with 112.5 kg of NaI(Tl) scintillators at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory (LSC) to test the DAMA/LIBRA result in a model independent way. We analyze its prospects in terms of the a priori critica…
COSINE-100 is a dark matter direct detection experiment designed to test the annual modulation signal observed by the DAMA/LIBRA experiment. COSINE-100 consists of 8 NaI(Tl) crystals with a total mass of 106 kg, a 2200 L liquid scintillator veto, and 37 muon detector panels. We present details of the data acquisition system of COSINE-100, including waveform storage using flash analog-to-digital converters for crystal events and integrated charge storage using charge-sensitive analog-to-digital converters for liquid scintillator and plastic scintillator muon veto events. We also discuss several…
A large effort has been carried out to characterize the background of sodium iodide crystals within the ANAIS (Annual modulation with NaI Scintillators) project. In this paper, the background models developed for three 12.5-kg NaI(Tl) scintillators produced by Alpha Spectra Inc. and operated at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory are presented together with an evaluation of the background prospects for the full experiment. Measured spectra from threshold to high energy in different conditions are well described by the models based on quantified activities. At the region of interest, crystal bu…
ANAIS (Annual modulation with NaI Scintillators) is a project aiming to set up at the new facilities of the Canfranc Underground Laboratory (LSC), a large scale NaI(Tl) experiment in order to explore the DAMA/LIBRA annual modulation positive result using the same target and technique. Two 12.5 kg each NaI(Tl) crystals provided by Alpha Spectra took data at the LSC in the ANAIS-25 set-up. The comparison of the background model for the ANAIS-25 prototypes with the experimental results is presented. ANAIS crystal radiopurity goals have been achieved for Th-232 and U-238 chains, but a Pb-210 conta…
KamLAND-PICO project aims to search for WIMPs dark matter by means of NaI(Tl) scintillator. To investigate the WIMPs candidate whose cross section is as small as $10^{-9}$ pb, a pure NaI(Tl) crystal was developed by chemical processing and taking care of surroundings. The concentration of U and Th chain was reduced to $5.4\pm0.9$ ppt and $3.3\pm2.2$ ppt, respectively. It should be remarked that the concentration of $^{210}$Pb which was difficult to reduce reached to the high purity as $58\pm26$ $μ$Bq/kg.
Over almost three decades the TAUP conference has seen a remarkable momentum gain in direct dark matter search. An important accelerator were first indications for a modulating signal rate in the DAMA/NaI experiment reported in 1997. Today the presence of an annual modulation, which matches in period and phase the expectation for dark matter, is supported at > 9$σ$ confidence. The underlying nature of dark matter, however, is still considered an open and fundamental question of particle physics. No other direct dark matter search could confirm the DAMA claim up to now; moreover, numerous null-…
Silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) are a good alternative to photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) because their gain and quantum efficiency are comparable to PMTs. However, the largest single-chip SiPM is still less than 1~cm$^2$. In order to use SiPMs with scintillators that have reasonable sensitivity, it is necessary to use multiple SiPMs. In this work, scintillation detectors are constructed and tested with a custom 2x2 SiPM array. The layout of the SiPMs and the geometry of the scintillator were determined by performing Geant4 simulations. Cubic NaI, CsI, and CLYC with 18~mm sides have been tested.…
The ANAIS (Annual modulation with NaI(Tl) Scintillators) experiment aims at the confirmation of the DAMA/LIBRA positive annual modulation signal using the same target and technique at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory (LSC). A first step, named ANAIS-25 (two 12.5 kg NaI(Tl) modules) taking data from December 2012 to February 2015, provided interesting outcomes: very high light collection efficiency, that could allow to lower the analysis energy threshold down to the level of 1 keVee, and a good understanding of the different background components, in particular the cosmogenic activated isoto…
The ANAIS (Annual modulation with NaI(Tl) Scintillators) experiment aims at the confirmation of the DAMA/LIBRA signal using the same target and technique at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory (LSC). Along 2016, 112.5 kg of ultra pure NaI(Tl) crystals will be installed at LSC in a 3x3 modules matrix configuration. The ANAIS-25 and ANAIS-37 set-ups have been taking data at the LSC testing the detector performance, the DAQ and analysis systems, and assessing the background. Main results coming from both set-ups will be summarized in this paper, focusing on the excellent detector performance and …
The ANAIS (Annual Modulation with NaI(Tl) Scintillators) experiment aims at the confirmation of the DAMA/LIBRA signal using the same target and technique at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory. 250 kg of ultrapure NaI(Tl) crystals will be used as a target, divided into 20 modules, each coupled to two photomultipliers. Two NaI(Tl) crystals of 12.5 kg each, grown by Alpha Spectra from a powder having a potassium level under the limit of our analytical techniques, form the ANAIS-25 set-up. The background contributions are being carefully studied and preliminary results are presented: their natura…
Development of a one-dimensional position sensitive detector for Compton X-ray polarimeters
Physical Research Laboratory（物理研究实验室）；INAF − - Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali di Roma（罗马天体物理学和行星学研究所）；Kavli Institute of Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology, Stanford University（斯坦福大学卡弗里粒子天体物理学与宇宙学研究所）
Defect Formation in NaI Crystals: A Novel Pathway to Dark Matter Detection
Max-Planck-Institut für Physik（马克斯·普朗克物理研究所）；Marietta-Blau-Institut für Teilchenphysik der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften（奥地利科学院玛丽塔·布劳粒子物理研究所）；Atominstitut, Technische Universität Wien（维也纳工业大学原子研究所）；Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Nanotecnologia（国家研究委员会纳米技术研究所）；INFN - Sezione di Roma（罗马INFN分部）；Gran Sasso Science Institute（格兰萨索科学研究所）；INFN - Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso（格兰萨索国家实验室）；Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche e Chimiche, Università degli Studi dell’Aquila（阿奎拉大学物理与化学系）
NaI(Tl) large crystals are applied in the search for galactic dark matter particles through their elastic scattering off the target nuclei in the detector by measuring the scintillation signal produced. However, energies deposited in the form of nuclear recoils are small, which added to the low efficiency to convert that energy into scintillation, makes that events at or very near the energy threshold, attributed either to radioactive backgrounds or to spurious noise (non-bulk NaI(Tl) scintillation events), can compromise the sensitivity goals of such an experiment. DAMA/LIBRA experiment, usin…
The ANAIS (Annual modulation with NaI(Tl) Scintillators) experiment aims at the confirmation or refutation of theDAMA/LIBRA positive annual modulation signal in the low energy detection rate, using the same target and technique, at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory (LSC) in Spain. ANAIS-112, consisting of nine 12.5 kg NaI(Tl) modules produced by Alpha Spectra Inc. in a 3x3matrix configuration, is taking data smoothly in "dark matter search" mode since August, 2017, after a commissioning phase and operation of the first detectors during the last years in various setups. A large effort has bee…
ANAIS (Annual modulation with NaI Scintillators) is a dark matter direct detection experiment consisting of 112.5 kg of NaI(Tl) detectors in operation at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory (LSC), in Spain, since August 2017. ANAIS' goal is to confirm or refute in a model independent way the DAMA/LIBRA positive result: an annual modulation in the low-energy detection rate having all the features expected for the signal induced by dark matter particles in a standard galactic halo. This modulation, observed for about 20 years, is in strong tension with the negative results of other very sensitiv…
