Author
A. Petkov
Bio: A. Petkov is an academic researcher from Occidental College. The author has contributed to research in topics: Dark matter & Directional Recoil Identification from Tracks. The author has an hindex of 8, co-authored 11 publications receiving 557 citations.
Papers
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Boston University1, University of Waterloo2, Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics3, Massachusetts Institute of Technology4, Joseph Fourier University5, University of California, Los Angeles6, Occidental College7, University of Pennsylvania8, University of Zaragoza9, University of Sheffield10, Brandeis University11, Harvard University12, Nagasaki Institute of Applied Science13, University of Edinburgh14, University of New Mexico15, University of Huelva16, University of Utah17, University of Nottingham18, Kyoto University19, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory20, Temple University21, University of Warwick22, New York University23, Nagoya University24, University of Tokyo25, Saga University26, University of Ioannina27
TL;DR: The case for a dark matter detector with directional sensitivity was presented at the 2009 CYGNUS workshop on directional dark matter detection, and contributions from theorists and experimental groups in the field as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: We present the case for a dark matter detector with directional sensitivity. This document was developed at the 2009 CYGNUS workshop on directional dark matter detection, and contains contributions from theorists and experimental groups in the field. We describe the need for a dark matter detector with directional sensitivity; each directional dark matter experiment presents their project's status; and we close with a feasibility study for scaling up to a one ton directional detector, which would cost around $150M.
224 citations
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15 Dec 2005-Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research Section A-accelerators Spectrometers Detectors and Associated Equipment
TL;DR: The DRIFT-II detector as mentioned in this paper is a second generation multi-module gaseous dark matter detector with two time projection chambers positioned back-to-back inside a stainless steel vacuum vessel containing carbon disulphide gas.
Abstract: DRIFT-II is a second generation multi-module gaseous dark matter detector. Each module contains two time projection chambers positioned back-to-back inside a stainless steel vacuum vessel containing carbon disulphide gas. This paper describes the DRIFT-II detector modules and the commissioning work performed to date.
91 citations
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TL;DR: In this article, a detailed calibration analysis comparing data from gamma-ray, X-ray and neutron sources to a GEANT4 Monte Carlo simulations reveals an efficiency for detection of neutron induced recoils of 94 ± 2 (stat.) ± 5 (sys.)%.
66 citations
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TL;DR: In this article, the so-called head-tail directional signature of neutron-induced nuclear recoil tracks at energies down to 15 kV/amu using the DRIFT-IIc dark matter detector is presented.
53 citations
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01 Mar 2009-Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research Section A-accelerators Spectrometers Detectors and Associated Equipment
TL;DR: In this paper, a 252Cf neutron source was placed on each of the principal axes of a DRIFT detector in order to test its ability to measure directional signatures from the three components of very low-energy (∼keV/amu) recoil ranges.
Abstract: The Directional Recoil Identification From Tracks (DRIFT) collaboration utilizes low-pressure gaseous detectors to search for Weakly Interacting Massive Particle (WIMP) dark matter with directional signatures. A 252Cf neutron source was placed on each of the principal axes of a DRIFT detector in order to test its ability to measure directional signatures from the three components of very low-energy (∼keV/amu) recoil ranges. A high trigger threshold and the event selection procedure ensured that only sulfur recoils were analyzed. Sulfur recoils produced in the CS2 target gas by the 252Cf source closely match those expected from massive WIMP induced sulfur recoils. For each orientation of the source, with a threshold of ∼50 keV, a directional signal from the range components was observed, indicating that the detector has directional capability along all three axes, though in one direction the directionality was marginal. An analysis of these results yields an optimal orientation for DRIFT detectors when searching for a directional signature from WIMPs. Additional energy dependent information is provided to aid in understanding this effect. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
43 citations
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01 Dec 1984
TL;DR: In a recent review as mentioned in this paper, the authors reflect some of the shifts of emphasis that are occurring among the fields of astrophysics, nuclear physics, and elementary particle physics and discuss the role of rotational degrees of freedom in heavy-ion collisions at low and moderate energies.
Abstract: The contents of this review reflect some of the shifts of emphasis that are occurring among the fields of astrophysics, nuclear physics, and elementary particle physics. Particle physics has made great advances in the unification of the fundamental forces of nature. Discussions and planning for a next big step in accelerator-colliders are presented. The technology of superconducting magnet systems as well as the fundamental physical principles of particle accelerators are discussed. Also presented are: high-resolution electronic particle detectors; nuclear physics changes such as pion interactions within nuclei; discussion of future relativistic heavy-ion colliders; the role of rotational degrees of freedom in heavy-ion collisions at low and moderate energies; hyperon beta decays; and the analysis of materials via nuclear reaction techniques. Neutrinos, their interactions and possible masses, have an important bearing on cosmology and the matter density of the universe in addition to their inherent interest in the microscopic world and this is also examined.
676 citations
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TL;DR: In this paper, the status of direct dark matter searches is summarized, focusing on the detector technologies used to directly detect a dark matter particle producing recoil energies in the keV energy scale.
Abstract: In recent decades, several detector technologies have been developed with the quest to directly detect dark matter interactions and to test one of the most important unsolved questions in modern physics. The sensitivity of these experiments has improved with a tremendous speed due to a constant development of the detectors and analysis methods, proving uniquely suited devices to solve the dark matter puzzle, as all other discovery strategies can only indirectly infer its existence. Despite the overwhelming evidence for dark matter from cosmological indications at small and large scales, clear evidence for a particle explaining these observations remains absent. This review summarises the status of direct dark matter searches, focusing on the detector technologies used to directly detect a dark matter particle producing recoil energies in the keV energy scale. The phenomenological signal expectations, main background sources, statistical treatment of data and calibration strategies are discussed.
395 citations
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TL;DR: A review of the physics of direct detection of dark matter, discussing the roles of both the particle physics and astrophysics in the expected signals, is given in this article, where the authors discuss the practical formulas needed to interpret a modulating signal.
Abstract: Direct detection experiments, which are designed to detect the scattering of dark matter off nuclei in detectors, are a critical component in the search for the Universe’s missing matter. This Colloquium begins with a review of the physics of direct detection of dark matter, discussing the roles of both the particle physics and astrophysics in the expected signals. The count rate in these experiments should experience an annual modulation due to the relative motion of the Earth around the Sun. This modulation, not present for most known background sources, is critical for solidifying the origin of a potential signal as dark matter. The focus is on the physics of annual modulation, discussing the practical formulas needed to interpret a modulating signal. The dependence of the modulation spectrum on the particle and astrophysics models for the dark matter is illustrated. For standard assumptions, the count rate has a cosine dependence with time, with a maximum in June and a minimum in December. Well-motivated generalizations of these models, however, can affect both the phase and amplitude of the modulation. Shown is how a measurement of an annually modulating signal could teach us about the presence of substructure in the galactic halo or about the interactions between dark and baryonic matter. Although primarily a theoretical review, the current experimental situation for annual modulation and future experimental directions is briefly discussed.
366 citations
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TL;DR: In this paper, the status of direct dark matter searches is summarized, focusing on the detector technologies used to directly detect a dark matter particle producing recoil energies in the keV energy scale.
Abstract: In the past decades, several detector technologies have been developed with the quest to directly detect dark matter interactions and to test one of the most important unsolved questions in modern physics. The sensitivity of these experiments has improved with a tremendous speed due to a constant development of the detectors and analysis methods, proving uniquely suited devices to solve the dark matter puzzle, as all other discovery strategies can only indirectly infer its existence. Despite the overwhelming evidence for dark matter from cosmological indications at small and large scales, a clear evidence for a particle explaining these observations remains absent. This review summarises the status of direct dark matter searches, focussing on the detector technologies used to directly detect a dark matter particle producing recoil energies in the keV energy scale. The phenomenological signal expectations, main background sources, statistical treatment of data and calibration strategies are discussed.
270 citations
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigate the effect of neutrino interactions on the detection performance in direct dark-matter detection experiments and find that neutrinos can be enhanced by new light force carriers (for instance a ''dark photon'') or neutrini magnetic moments.
Abstract: We investigate standard and non-standard solar neutrino signals in direct dark matter detection experiments. It is well known that even without new physics, scattering of solar neutrinos on nuclei or electrons is an irreducible background for direct dark matter searches, once these experiments reach the ton scale. Here, we entertain the possibility that neutrino interactions are enhanced by new physics, such as new light force carriers (for instance a ``dark photon'') or neutrino magnetic moments. We consider models with only the three standard neutrino flavors, as well as scenarios with extra sterile neutrinos. We find that low-energy neutrino-electron and neutrino-nucleus scattering rates can be enhanced by several orders of magnitude, potentially enough to explain the event excesses observed in CoGeNT and CRESST. We also investigate temporal modulation in these neutrino signals, which can arise from geometric effects, oscillation physics, non-standard neutrino energy loss, and direction-dependent detection efficiencies. We emphasize that, in addition to providing potential explanations for existing signals, models featuring new physics in the neutrino sector can also be very relevant to future dark matter searches, where, on the one hand, they can be probed and constrained, but on the other hand, their signatures could also be confused with dark matter signals.
234 citations