T-1020 NaI crystal test for DM-Ice

• Main Authors: Maruyama, Reina, Heeger, Karsten, Pierpoint, Zachary, Pettus, Walter, Broerman, Benjamin, Hilgenberg, Chris, Webber, David, /Wisconsin U., Madison
• Other Authors: United States. Department of Energy. Office of Science.
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory 2011
• Subjects: Research Programs; Instrumentation; 46 Instrumentation Related To Nuclear Science And Technology; Shielding; Nonluminous Matter; Neutrinos; Shields Instrumentation; Nai Detectors; Phosphorescence; Overburden; Fermilab Accelerator; Muons; Fermilab; Antarctic; South Pole; The Antarctic; Antarc*; South pole
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.2172/1037799; http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc832280/

This is a memorandum of understanding between the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) and the experiments of the NaI Crystal Test for DM-Ice from the University of Wisconsin who have committed to participate in detector tests to be carried out during the 2011-2012 Fermilab Neutrino program. The memorandum is intended primarily for the purpose of recording expectations for budget estimates and work allocations for Fermilab, the funding agencies and the participating institutions. It reflects an arrangement that currently is satisfactory to the parties; however, it is recognized and anticipated that changing circumstances of the evolving research program will necessitate revisions. The parties agree to modify this memorandum to reflect such required adjustments. Actual contractual obligations will be set forth in separate documents. The DM-Ice collaboration is designing a sodium-iodide (NaI) based detector for a direct dark matter search. The detectors should have low readout noise and background levels to carry out a sensitive search. A 17-kg version of the experiment is running at the South Pole, 2500 m deep in the Antarctic ice, and a large scale experiment is currently being designed. One of the keys to the success of the experiment is to have a good understanding of the background levels intrinsic in the NaI detectors. To measure the background level, the detectors have to be shielded against cosmic rays. The lead shielding used for DAMIC in the Minos Underground Areas is a well-suited location for this test since it offers enough overburden to shield against cosmic rays, lead shielding, and experimental infrastructure. The goal of the test is to assess the background levels in the detector and to assess the characteristics of phosphorescence induced by muons and 100 keV-3 MeV gamma rays.