Extending light WIMP searches to single scintillation photons in LUX



Akerib, DS, Alsum, S, Araujo, HM, Bai, X, Balajthy, J, Baxter, A, Beltrame, P ORCID: 0000-0001-9523-6128, Bernard, EP, Bernstein, A, Biesiadzinski, TP
et al (show 92 more authors) (2020) Extending light WIMP searches to single scintillation photons in LUX. PHYSICAL REVIEW D, 101 (4). 042001-. ISSN 2470-0010, 2470-0029

[thumbnail of 1907.06272.pdf] Text
1907.06272.pdf - Author Accepted Manuscript

Download (372kB) | Preview

Abstract

We present a novel analysis technique for liquid xenon time projection chambers that allows for a lower threshold by relying on events with a prompt scintillation signal consisting of single detected photons. The energy threshold of the LUX dark matter experiment is primarily determined by the smallest scintillation response detectable, which previously required a twofold coincidence signal in its photomultiplier arrays, enforced in data analysis. The technique presented here exploits the double photoelectron emission effect observed in some photomultiplier models at vacuum ultraviolet wavelengths. We demonstrate this analysis using an electron recoil calibration dataset and place new constraints on the spin-independent scattering cross section of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) down to 2.5 GeV/c2 WIMP mass using the 2013 LUX dataset. This new technique is promising to enhance light WIMP and astrophysical neutrino searches in next-generation liquid xenon experiments.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: 5106 Nuclear and Plasma Physics, 5107 Particle and High Energy Physics, 51 Physical Sciences
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 13 May 2020 10:11
Last Modified: 06 Dec 2024 23:06
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.101.042001
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3085666