J. T. White

The ZEPLIN-III dark matter detector: Instrument design, manufacture and commissioning

We present details of the technical design, manufacture and testing of the ZEPLIN-III dark matter experiment. ZEPLIN-III is a two-phase xenon detector which measures both the scintillation light and the ionisation charge generated in the liquid by interacting particles and radiation. The instrument design is driven by both the physics requirements and by the technology requirements surrounding the use of liquid xenon. These include considerations of key performance parameters, such as the efficiency of scintillation light collection, restrictions placed on the use of materials to control the inherent radioactivity levels, attainment of high vacuum levels and chemical contamination control. The successful solution has involved a number of novel design and manufacturing features which will be of specific use to future generations of direct dark matter search experiments as they struggle with similar and progressively more demanding requirements.

Measurement of single electron emission in two-phase xenon

We present the first measurements of the electroluminescence response to the emission of single electrons in a two-phase noble gas detector. Single ionization electrons generated in liquid xenon are detected in a thin gas layer during the 31-day background run of the ZEPLIN-II experiment, a two-phase xenon detector for WIMP dark matter searches. Both the pressure dependence and magnitude of the single electron response are in agreement with previous measurements of electroluminescence yield in xenon. We discuss different photoionization processes as possible cause for the sample of single electrons studied in this work. This observation may have implications for the design and operation of future large-scale two-phase systems.

Limits on spin-dependent WIMP-nucleon cross-sections from the first ZEPLIN-II data

The first underground data run of the ZEPLIN-II experiment has set a limit on the nuclear recoil rate in the two-phase xenon detector for direct dark matter searches. In this Letter the results from this run are converted into the limits on spin-dependent WIMP-proton and WIMP-neutron cross-sections. The minimum of the curve for WIMP-neutron cross-section corresponds to 7 × 10−2 pb at a WIMP mass of around 65 GeV.

Measurements of neutrons produced by high-energy muons at the Boulby Underground Laboratory

We present the first measurements of the muon-induced neutron flux at the Boulby Underground Laboratory. The experiment was carried out with an 0.73 tonne liquid scintillator that also served as an anticoincidence system for the ZEPLIN-II direct dark matter search. The experimental method exploited the delayed coincidences between high-energy muon signals and gamma-rays from radiative neutron capture on hydrogen or other elements. The muon-induced neutron rate, defined as the average number of detected neutrons per detected muon, was measured as 0.079±0.003 (stat.) neutrons/muon using neutron-capture signals above 0.55 MeV in a time window of 40–190 μs after the muon trigger. Accurate Monte Carlo simulations of the neutron production, transport and detection in a precisely modeled laboratory and experimental setup using the GEANT4 toolkit gave a result 1.8 times higher than the measured value. The difference greatly exceeds all statistical and systematic uncertainties. As the vast majority of neutrons detected in the current setup were produced in lead we evaluated from our measurements the neutron yield in lead as (1.31±0.06)×10-3 neutrons/muon/(g/cm2) for a mean muon energy of about 260 GeV.

Advanced forward calorimetry for the SSC and TeVatron collider

Abstract We describe a project to develop fast, radiation hardened forward calorimetry for the SSC and TeVatron collider. Detector technologies discussed are based on gas and warm liquid media. In particular, we present the design of an ultrasensitive hybrid charge preamplifier for liquid technology capable of operating at 0.1–1 GHz. The actual detector bandwidth will depend on the choice of detector media used and the maximum allowable operating high voltage.

SIGN, a WIMP Detector Based on High Pressure Gaseous Neon

A newWIMP detector concept based on the measurement of Scintillation and Ionization in Gaseous Neon (SIGN) is presented. The detector employs room temperature gaseous neon at a pressure of ≥100 bars as the WIMP target. The ionization is readout using either charge gain or electrofluorescence or both in a modified cylindrical proportional chamber geometry. The primary scintillation is detected by placing a CsI photocathode on the inside wall of the cylindrical chamber. The neon is doped with xenon (≤0.5%) for signal enhancement. Theoretical considerations suggest that the measurement of both scintillation and ionization will provide discrimination between nuclear and electron recoils in this gas mixture.

R & D for Future ZEPLIN

We propose a new concept for a very low background Dark Matter experiment using multi-ton liquid xenon. The detector consists of two concentric spheres and a charge readout device in the centre. Xenon between the two spheres forms a self-shield and veto device. The inner surface of the centre sphere is coated with CsI to form an internal photocathode with minimum of 2π coverage for any event in the active volume. Photoelectrons from the CsI photocathode drift toward the charge readout micro-structure in the centre of the detector. Both scintillation and ionisation is measured simultaneously for background rejection and 3-D event mapping. In addition to external shielding, the low background is achieved by eliminating PMTs and by using low radioactivity pure materials throughout the detector. We present detailed calculations of the charge readout system and design details. The detector is expected to probe the full SUSY parameter space.

Status of ZEPLIN II and ZEPLIN III

We describe the ZEPLIN II (30-kg) and ZEPLIN III (7-kg) discriminating dark matter detector using two-phase xenon designed for direct detection of cold dark matter in the form of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles. These two detectors are currently being commissioned. Both detector will begin operation in the Boulby Mine, UK in 2005. ZEPLIN II & III are capable of discriminating between nuclear recoils and background events and have a design reach up to two orders of magnitude beyond current limits. These two detectors will also serve as a step in the development program for a next-generation ton-scale detector.