Search

There has been an increasing interest on the concept of Inelastic Dark Matter (iDM) - motivated in part by some recent data. We describe the constraints on iDM from the results of the two phase dark matter detector ZEPLIN-II, which has demonstrated strong background discrimination capabilities (>98%). Using previously published estimates of the ZEPLIN-II residual background, the iDM limits presented here exclude a significantly larger iDM parameter space than the limits derived without background subtraction. Moreover, assuming standard xenon quenching factor (qXe) of 0.19, our ZEPLIN-II limits strongly suggest the exclusion of iDM signal claims at >99% C.L., for Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) masses >100 GeV., Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures

A multi-target detection system XAX, comprising concentric 10 ton targets of 136Xe and 129/131Xe, together with a geometrically similar or larger target of liquid Ar, is described. Each is configured as a two-phase scintillation/ionization TPC detector, enhanced by a full 4pi array of ultra-low radioactivity Quartz Photon Intensifying Detectors (QUPIDs) replacing the conventional photomultipliers for detection of scintillation light. It is shown that background levels in XAX can be reduced to the level required for dark matter particle (WIMP) mass measurement at a 10^-10 pb WIMP-nucleon cross section, with single-event sensitivity below 10^-11 pb. The use of multiple target elements allows for confirmation of the A^2 dependence of a coherent cross section, and the different Xe isotopes provide information on the spin-dependence of the dark matter interaction. The event rates observed by Xe and Ar would modulate annually with opposite phases from each other for WIMP mass >~100 GeV/c^2. The large target mass of 136Xe and high degree of background reduction allow neutrinoless double beta decay to be observed with lifetimes of 10^27-10^28 years, corresponding to the Majorana neutrino mass range 0.01-0.1 eV, the most likely range from observed neutrino mass differences. The use of a 136Xe-depleted 129/131Xe target will also allow measurement of the pp solar neutrino spectrum to a precision of 1-2%., Comment: 16 pages with 17 figures

We present the first measurements of the electroluminescence response to the emission of single electrons in a two-phase noble gas detector. Single ionization electrons generated in liquid xenon are detected in a thin gas layer during the 31-day background run of the ZEPLIN-II experiment, a two-phase xenon detector for WIMP dark matter searches. Both the pressure dependence and magnitude of the single-electron response are in agreement with previous measurements of electroluminescence yield in xenon. We discuss different photoionization processes as possible cause for the sample of single electrons studied in this work. This observation may have implications for the design and operation of future large-scale two-phase systems., Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures

We propose a new concept for a very low background multi-ton liquid xenon Dark Matter experiment. The detector consists of two concentric spheres and a charge readout device in the centre. Xenon between the two spheres forms a self-shield and veto device. The inner surface of the central sphere is coated with CsI to form an internal photocathode with minimum of 2\pi coverage for any event in the active volume. Photoelectrons from the CsI photocathode drift toward the charge readout micro-structure in the centre of the detector. Both scintillation and ionisation are measured simultaneously for background rejection and 3-D event mapping. In addition to external shielding, the low background is achieved by eliminating PMTs and by using low radioactivity pure materials throughout the detector. We present detailed calculations of the charge readout system and design details. The detector is expected to probe the full SUSY parameter space., Comment: to appear in Proc. 7th UCLA Symposium on Sources and Detection of Dark Matter and Dark Energy in the Universe, 22-24 February, Marina del Rey, USA; Nucl. Phys. B Proc. Suppl., in press; 4 pages, 3 figues

Results are presented from the first underground data run of ZEPLIN-II, a 31 kg two phase xenon detector developed to observe nuclear recoils from hypothetical weakly interacting massive dark matter particles. Discrimination between nuclear recoils and background electron recoils is afforded by recording both the scintillation and ionisation signals generated within the liquid xenon, with the ratio of these signals being different for the two classes of event. This ratio is calibrated for different incident species using an AmBe neutron source and Co-60 gamma-ray sources. From our first 31 live days of running ZEPLIN-II, the total exposure following the application of fiducial and stability cuts was 225 kgxdays. A background population of radon progeny events was observed in this run, arising from radon emission in the gas purification getters, due to radon daughter ion decays on the surfaces of the walls of the chamber. An acceptance window, defined by the neutron calibration data, of 50% nuclear recoil acceptance between 5 keVee and 20 keVee, had an observed count of 29 events, with a summed expectation of 28.6+/-4.3 gamma-ray and radon progeny induced background events. These figures provide a 90% c.l. upper limit to the number of nuclear recoils of 10.4 events in this acceptance window, which converts to a WIMP-nucleon spin-independent cross-section with a minimum of 6.6x10^-7 pb following the inclusion of an energy dependent, calibrated, efficiency. A second run is currently underway in which the radon progeny will be eliminated, thereby removing the background population, with a projected sensitivity of 2x10^-7 pb for similar exposures as the first run., Comment: 38 Pages, 16 Figures, (v2: corrected table 2 description)