Nuclear recoil energy in dark matter interactions

• Grant number: 18/01534-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: May 01, 2018
• End date: December 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Elementary Particle Physics and Fields
• Principal Investigator: Ivone Freire da Mota e Albuquerque
• Grantee: Argel Nasir Sosa Nuñez
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física (IF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Our project has as its general subject the search for the understanding of dark matter. In particular, we will investigate aspects of the interaction of dark matter with nuclear targets. The nuclei analyzed will be those that constitute experiments of direct dark matter detection, such as xenon, neon and argon, always focusing on the latter, due to our participation in the experiment DarkSide. We aim to deepen the knowledge about the energy released due to the interaction of dark matter in the detector, this energy is called recoil energy. For this understanding it is necessary to also analyze the energy transferred in interactions with the nucleus electrons. We will investigate various aspects of both electronic and nuclear interaction so that we can better specify how much recoil energy is actually measured by dark matter experiments. Together with the more specific subject of our project, the student should study the fundamental elements of this area of research, seeking to understand both the existing gravitational evidence and the experiments that seek to detect this matter. It should also understand models of particle physics that propose candidates for dark matter. The student will also participate in the DarkSide experiment, so you should thoroughly understand all the characteristics of this experiment. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

AGNES, P.; ALBERGO, S.; ALBUQUERQUE, I; ARBA, M.; AVE, M.; BOIANO, A.; BONIVENTO, W. M.; BOTTINO, B.; BUSSINO, S.; CADEDDU, M.; et al. Performance of the ReD TPC, a novel double-phase LAr detector with silicon photomultiplier readout. EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL C, v. 81, n. 11, NOV 2021. (18/01534-2, 17/26238-4)