A model of the directional sensitivity of low-pressure CF₄ dark matter detectors

Identification of the composition of dark matter is one of the major unsolved puzzles in modern physics. Detectors with sensitivity to the direction of certain classes of dark matter particles have potentially very powerful discrimination ability against more mundane backgrounds. The Dark Matter Time Projection Chamber (DMTPC) collaboration is actively working on a directional detection method using low-pressure CF₄ gas detectors with optical readout. This work constructs a model for the directional reconstruction ability of DMTPC detectors, evaluates the model against calibration data, and finally uses the model to project the directional sensitivity of the under-construction next generation DMTPC detector. This detector is expected to have a cubic meter of fiducial volume which, at 30 Torr, corresponds to a fluorine target mass of 120 g.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2015

Author dc:creator

• Deaconu, Cosmin Ştefan

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Peter Fisher.

• Physics.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/99314

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/99314