Measurement of photoelectron yield of the CDEX-10 liquid argon detector prototype

The China Dark Matter Experiment (CDEX) is a low background experiment at China Jinping Underground Laboratory (CJPL) designed to directly detect dark matter with a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector. In the second phase, CDEX-10, which has a 10 kg germanium array detector system, a liquid argon (LAr) anti-Compton active shielding and cooling system is proposed. To study the properties of the LAr detector, a prototype with an active volume of 7 liters of liquid argon was built and operated. The photoelectron yields, as a critically important parameter for the prototype detector, have been measured to be 0.051-0.079 p.e./keV for 662 keV γ rays at different positions. The good agreement between the experimental and simulation results has provided a reasonable understanding and determination of the important parameters such as the surviving fraction of the Ar₂^* excimers, the absorption length for 128 nm photons in liquid argon, the reflectivity of Teflon and so on.     

A Monte Carlo study for the shielding of γ backgrounds induced by radionuclides for CDEX

The CDEX(China Dark matter EXperiment)Collaboration will carry out a direct search for WIMPs(Weakly Interacting Massive Particles)using an Ultra-Low Energy Threshold High Purity Germanium(ULE-HPGe)detector at the CJPL(China JinPing deep underground Laboratory).A complex shielding system was designed to reduce backgrounds and a detailed GEANT4 Monte Carlo simulation was performed to study the achievable reduction of T rays induced by radionuclides and neutron backgrounds by D(γ,n)p reaction.Furthermore,the upper level of allowed radiopurity of shielding materials was estimated under the constraint of the expected goal.Compared with the radiopurity reported by other low-background rare-event experiments,it indicates that the shielding used in the CDEX can be made out of materials with obtainable radiopurity.     

Study on cosmogenic activation in germanium detectors for future tonne-scale CDEX experiment

A study on cosmogenic activation in germanium was carried out to evaluate the cosmogenic background level of natural and ~(70)Ge depleted germanium detectors. The production rates of long-lived radionuclides were calculated with Geant4 and CRY.Results were validated by comparing the simulated and experimental spectra of CDEX-1B detector. Based on the validated codes, the cosmogenic background level was predicted for further tonne-scale CDEX experiment. The suppression of cosmogenic background level could be achieved by underground germanium crystal growth and high-purity germanium detector fabrication to reach the sensitivity requirement for direct detection of dark matter. With the low cosmogenic background, new physics channels,such as solar neutrino research and neutrinoless double-beta decay experiments, were opened and the corresponding simulations and evaluations were carried out.     

暗物质理论研究进展

评述了天体物理中暗物质的发现以及标准模型所面临的问题,综述了解决这些问题及标准模型之外可能出现的新物理与暗物质的联系。介绍了暗物质粒子选择条件和可能的暗物质粒子的候选者;对圆柱形暗物质表面密度与星系和星系团暗物质晕的晕核半径的关系进行了讨论,与其他模型进行了比较,得出暗物质晕的特征半径r_*的暗物质表面密度分布不是一个普适量;并叙述了近几年暗物质研究中提出的新理论模型-Hidden dark matter,最后叙述了中国暗物质实验探测研究的进展,2016年底DAMPE的第一批数据有可能给出;中国锦屏地下实验室（CJPL）的CDEX和PandaX合作组的第一期实验没有发现暗物质粒子存在的信号,期待他们下期的实验。A review of the evidence of the dark matter found in universe and the problems faced by the standard model. To address these issues as well as the possible relationship between the new physics beyond the standard model and dark matter, and given the selection condition of dark matter and possible candidates of the weakly-interacting massive particles (WIMPs). The correlation between the column surface density and the halo core radius of the dark matter halos of galaxies and cluster of galaxies is discussed, and the other models are compared. We find that the surface density within the halo characteristic radius r* is not an universal quantity; The new model (hidden dark matter)proposed in the study of dark matter is described. At last, the research progress of dark matter experiment in China is commented. At the end of 2016, the first batch of DAMPE data may be given;No significant excess events of WIMPS were found in the first stage of both the CDEX and PandaX experiments located in the China Jinping Underground Laboratory(CJPL). Look forward to their the next stage of these experiments in CJPL.     

国际地下实验室发展综述*

地下实验室是开展粒子物理学、天体物理学及宇宙学等领域一些重大基础性前沿课题的重要研究场所和良好的低本底环境,建设和发展地下实验室对于一个国家的基础科学研究具有重要科学意义.目前,国际上许多国家都已经建立起地下实验室,而中国一直没有很好的地下实验室,特别是极深地下实验室.2009年,清华大学与二滩水电开发有限责任公司开展战略合作,利用锦屏山隧道建立中国首个世界最深的地下实验室——中国锦屏地下实验室（China Jinping Underground Laboratory, CJPL）,并于2010年12月12日正式启用.中国锦屏地下实验室的建成,标志着中国已经具备开展物理学重大基础前沿科学研究的自主地下实验平台,对于推动我国相关领域的重大基础前沿课题的自主研究意义重大.文章对国际上一些重要地下实验室的情况进行了介绍,并对中国锦屏地下实验室的基本情况进行了介绍.     

Performances of a prototype point-contact germanium detector immersed in liquid nitrogen for light dark matter search

The CDEX-10 experiment searches for light weakly interacting massive particles, a form of dark matter, at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory, where approximately 10 kg of germanium detectors are arranged in an array and immersed in liquid nitrogen. Herein, we report on the experimental apparatus, detector characterization, and spectrum analysis of one prototype detector. Owing to the higher rise-time resolution of the CDEX-10 prototype detector as compared with CDEX-1 B, we identified the origin of an observed category of extremely fast events. For data analysis of the CDEX-10 prototype detector, we introduced and applied an improved bulk/surface event discrimination method. The results of the new method were compared to those of the CDEX-1 B spectrum. Both sets of results showed good consistency in the 0-12 ke Vee energy range, except for the 8.0 keV K-shell X-ray peak from the external copper.     

直接探测暗物质和中国暗物质实验

The nature of dark matter in our universe is one of the most challenging problems in science today. A most probable class of dark matter is the weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), which exhibit a wide range of features. Current experiments searching for dark matter aim for direct detection via the elastic scattering off ordinary matter in terrestrial detectors. This paper will present the main methods, status and roadmap for the direct detection of dark matter. The world's deepest laboratory, China Jinping underground laboratory and its extension, will also be described. Finally, we will give a detailed introduction to the research history, detection technologies, current results, and future prospects of China dark matter experiment (CDEX).     

掺钆液闪中子探测器的研制

中子在探测器中能产生与暗物质粒子（WIMPs）类似的核反冲信号,对于低背景的暗物质直接探测实验,精确测量和排除中子的干扰尤其重要。为测量中国锦屏地下实验室(CJPL)中子本底的通量,研制了高效的、具有很强中子-伽马分辨的掺钆液闪快中子探测器。介绍了掺钆液闪中子探测器的研制和性能,包括探测器形状和尺寸的设计,液体闪烁体类型、光电倍增管型号以及液闪容器材料的选择,探测器的伽马能量刻度以及中子与伽马信号的甄别。用Am-Be中子源对探测器进行探测效率刻度,得到阈值为0.2 MeV等效电子能量的中子探测效率为(6.300.30)%,满足中国锦屏地下实验室对中子通量测量的要求。     

Limits on light WIMPs with a 1 kg-scale germanium detector at 160 eVee physics threshold at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory

We report results of a search for light weakly interacting massive particle(WIMP) dark matter from the CDEX-1 experiment at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory(CJPL). Constraints on WIMP-nucleon spin-independent(SI) and spin-dependent(SD) couplings are derived with a physics threshold of 160 eVee, from an exposure of 737.1 kg-days. The SI and SD limits extend the lower reach of light WIMPs to 2 GeV and improve over our earlier bounds at WIMP mass less than 6 GeV.     

在大型强子对撞机上的CMS实验

LHC（large hadron collider）是目前世界上能量最高的强子对撞机.CMS(compact muon solenoid,中文译名是紧凑型缪子螺线管探测器)是LHC上的主要实验计划之一,其目标就是要寻找Higgs粒子或者超出标准模型的其他新粒子,探清自然界的电弱破缺机制,以及寻找暗物质.CMS实验位于高能量和高亮度的最前沿,是21世纪初人类认识微观世界最重要的物理实验之一.中国参加了这项国际合作,制作了部分μ子探测器、磁铁支架、电子学和地板等,目前转入物理研究工作,争取在物理研究中作出有显示度的贡献.文章简要介绍了CMS探测器以及CMS实验的目标和意义.     

低本底液闪中子探测器的材料测试研究

为测量中国锦屏地下实验室（China JinPing underground Laboratory,CJPL）极低通量的中子本底,需要建造大型快中子液体闪烁体探测器。建造探测器需要选用低放射性本底材料,并且化学性质稳定,不与液体闪烁体发生反应而影响液体闪烁体（EJ-335）的性能。为此,建造了小型液闪探测器,在其中分别放入聚四氟乙烯、无氧铜、氟橡胶、全氟醚橡胶这4种材料进行长期浸泡,并分别进行了如下测试:液闪长时间浸泡各种材料前后液闪的吸收光谱测试;用60Co γ源检测小型液闪探测器光产额随时间的变化情况;用Am-Be中子源检验探测器在浸泡前后的n-γ甄别性能。最终实验结果表明,聚四氟乙烯和全氟醚这2种材料与液闪有很好的兼容性,可作为大型快中子液闪探测器的容器和密封圈的备选材料。In order to measure the flux and spectrum of neutron background which is extremely low in China JinPing underground Laboratory (CJPL), liquid scintillator detector with large scale used to detect fast neutron need to be fabricated. Surrounding materials used in detector require the excellent performance, such as low radioactivity as well as stable chemical properties, which do not react with liquid scintillator, so as to avoid affecting the performance of detector. Polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE), highly purified no-oxygen copper, fluororubber and perfluoroelastomer had been put in a small detector and soaked for a long time. The change of absorption spectrum and light yield along with time as well as the performance of n-γ discrimination after soaked were tested. The results show that PTFE and Perfluoroelastomer are compatible with liquid scintillator, which offers a reference for the selection of material used in container and seal of liquid scintillator detector used to detect fast neutron.     

Physics prospects of the Jinping neutrino experiment

The China Jinping Underground Laboratory(CJPL), which has the lowest cosmic-ray muon flux and the lowest reactor neutrino flux of any laboratory, is ideal to carry out low-energy neutrino experiments. With two detectors and a total fiducial mass of 2000 tons for solar neutrino physics(equivalently, 3000 tons for geo-neutrino and supernova neutrino physics), the Jinping neutrino experiment will have the potential to identify the neutrinos from the CNO fusion cycles of the Sun, to cover the transition phase for the solar neutrino oscillation from vacuum to matter mixing, and to measure the geo-neutrino flux, including the Th/U ratio. These goals can be fulfilled with mature existing techniques. Efforts on increasing the target mass with multi-modular neutrino detectors and on developing the slow liquid scintillator will increase the Jinping discovery potential in the study of solar neutrinos,geo-neutrinos, supernova neutrinos, and dark matter.     

Low-energy neutrino and dark matter physics with sub-keV germanium detectors

The TEXONO-CDEX Collaboration (Taiwan experiment on neutrino?CChina dark matter experiment) explores high-purity germanium (HPGe) detection technology to develop a sub-keV threshold detector for pursuing studies on low mass weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), properties of neutrino and the possibilities of neutrino-nucleus coherent scattering observation. This article will introduce the facilities of newly established China Jing-Ping Underground Laboratory (CJPL), preliminary result of cosmic ray background studies at CJPL, the dark matter studies pursued at Kuo-Sheng Neutrino Laboratory (KSNL) and research efforts to accomplish our physics goals.     

掺钆液闪中子探测器的研制

中子在探测器中能产生与暗物质粒子(WIMPs)类似的核反冲信号,对于低背景的暗物质直接探测实验,精确测量和排除中子的干扰尤其重要。为测量中国锦屏地下实验室(CJPL)中子本底的通量,研制了高效的、具有很强"中子-伽马"分辨的掺钆液闪快中子探测器。介绍了掺钆液闪中子探测器的研制和性能,包括探测器形状和尺寸的设计,液体闪烁体类型、光电倍增管型号以及液闪容器材料的选择,探测器的伽马能量刻度以及中子与伽马信号的甄别。用Am-Be中子源对探测器进行探测效率刻度,得到阈值为0.2 MeV等效电子能量的中子探测效率为(6.30±0.30)%,满足中国锦屏地下实验室对中子通量测量的要求。     

PandaX 暗物质探测实验

PandaX是一个位于四川锦屏地下实验室的大型粒子与天体物理稀有事件探测实验装置。PandaX的一期和二期实验利用二相型氙时间投影室技术来直接探测弱相互作用暗物质粒子。PandaX一期实验已经完成,它使用了120 kg氙以检验以往其他实验所发现的疑似信号,其结果在标准假设下否定了这些疑似信号。PandaX二期升级了探测器,使用了500 kg的氙,预期在2015年晚些时候正式开始数据采集以寻找暗物质,将有望拓展暗物质探测的极限。     

中国锦屏地下实验室缪子辐射环境蒙特卡罗方法模拟

用蒙特卡罗方法对中国锦屏地下实验室（CJPL）的缪子辐射本底进行了模拟。在对宇宙线缪子进行模拟时,依据海平面缪子流强Gaisser公式建立模型,并利用MUSIC程序,模拟了CJPL实验室的剩余缪子归一化能谱,进一步利用FLUKA程序模拟得到了缪致光子、中子的产额和平均能量。结果表明：剩余缪子的平均能量369 GeV,通量3.1710-6 m-2s-1,次级光子总的注量率约1.5710-4 m-2s-1,次级中子总的注量率约8.3710-7 m-2s-1。通过与世界上其他地下实验室本底水平的对比,表明CJPL的缪子辐射环境低于世界上大多数地下实验室。     

PandaX实验的进展与展望

PandaX是位于四川的中国锦屏地下实验室（CJPL）内的,利用氙作为工作物质,探测暗物质等其它极稀有事件的大型地下粒子探测实验计划。PandaX探测器中的氙工作在气液两相的模式。通过检测液相和气相中闪烁光强的比例,实现对目标粒子包括WIMP和Axion等疑似信号的鉴别。PandaX已顺利完成了有效区体积约为120 kg氙的一期计划,目前正在运行实施有效区体积约为500 kg氙的二期计划。在WIMP质量为45 GeV/c2附近,探测灵敏度达2.97×10-45 cm2（90%置信度）,没有发现WIMP疑似信号。本工作介绍了PandaX一期和二期的进展,以及后续升级计划,其中包括升级PandaX的时间投影室至4吨,建造用于屏蔽岩石放射性本底的水屏蔽,以及136Xe双贝塔衰变的研究计划等。PandaX is a xenon-based dark matter and other rare events searching project located at China JinPing underground Laboratory (CJPL), Sichuan province, China. Dual phases, liquid and gas phase of xenon are used in the detector. Particles, including Weak Interaction Massive Particles (WIMPs) or axions etc., may induce scintillating signals in both liquid (S1 signal) and gas (S2 signal) phases, and then are identified by analyzing the ratio of S1 and S2. The PandaX had completed its first stage, the 120 kg in fiducial volume, and now is running in its stage Ⅱ with fiducial volume of 500 kg. The running results show that the WIMP-matter cross section detecting sensitivity of about 2.97×10-45 cm2(90% C.L.) has been achieved at a WIMP mass of 44.7 GeV/c2, and no WIMP candidates are identified. The upgrading plan of the PandaX is discussed, which include to build a larger Time project chamber (TPC) of about 4 tons, a water tank for radiation shielding, and the plan of 136Xe double beta decay studies.     

Constraints on cosmic-ray boosted dark matter in CDEX-10

Dark matter (DM) direct detection experiments have been setting strong limits on the DM–nucleon scattering cross section at the DM mass above a few GeV, but leave large parameter spaces unexplored in the low mass region. DM is likely to be scattered and boosted by relativistic cosmic rays in the expanding universe if it can generate nuclear recoils in direct detection experiments to offer observable signals. Since low energy threshold detectors using Germanium have provided good constraints on ordinary halo GeV-scale DM, it is necessary to re-analyze 102.8 kg\begin{document}$ \times $\end{document}day data in the CDEX-10 experiment assuming that DM is boosted by cosmic rays. For the DM mass range 1 keV \begin{document}$ <m_\chi < $\end{document} 1 MeV and the effective distance within 1 kpc, we reach an almost flat floor limit at \begin{document}$ 8.32\times10^{-30} $\end{document} cm² for the spin-independent DM–nucleon scattering cross section, at a 90% confidence level. The CDEX-10 result is able to close the gap unambiguously in the parameter space between the MiniBooNE and XENON1T constraints, which were partially hindered by the Earth attenuation effect. We also quantitatively calculate the expected neutrino floor on searching for CRBDM in future direct detection experiments using Germanium.     

非重子冷暗物质粒子的研究进展

暗物质问题目前已受到物理学界的高度关注，因为这一课题的研究和进展，将直接影响到粒子物理、天体物理和宇宙学的发展方向。当前世界上已有一些大的实验组正在开展这方面的研究工作，并已取得了一定的结果；文章重点介绍两个重要的探测实验，即中意合作DAMA组（Dark Matter Group)100kg Nal（Tl）探测器阵列实验和美国的CDMS（Cold Dark Matter Search）实验组的低温探测器实验。详细介绍了DAMA实验的物理分析方法及其实验结果，并同CDMS实验结果进行了相应的比较。     

国际地下实验室发展综述

地下实验室是开展粒子物理学、天体物理学及宇宙学等领域一些重大基础性前沿课题的重要研究场所和良好的低本底环境,建设和发展地下实验室对于一个国家的基础科学研究具有重要科学意义.目前,国际上许多国家都已经建立起地下实验室,而中国一直没有很好的地下实验室,特别是极深地下实验室.2009年,清华大学与二滩水电开发有限责任公司开展战略合作,利用锦屏山隧道建立中国首个世界最深的地下实验室--中国锦屏地下实验室(China Jinping Underground Laboratory,CJPL),并于2010年12月12日正式启用.中国锦屏地下实验室的建成,标志着中国已经具备开展物理学重大基础前沿科学研究的自主地下实验平台,对于推动我国相关领域的重大基础前沿课题的自主研究意义重大.文章对国际上一些重要地下实验室的情况进行了介绍,并对中国锦屏地下实验室的基本情况进行了介绍.