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Update on the MiniCLEAN Dark Matter Experiment

Authors :: Rielage, K.
Akashi-Ronquest, M.
Bodmer, M.
Bourque, R.
Buck, B.
Butcher, A.
Caldwell, T.
Chen, Y.
Coakley, K.
Flores, E.
Formaggio, J. A.
Gastler, D.
Giuliani, F.
Gold, M.
Grace, E.
Griego, J.
Guerrero, N.
Guiseppe, V.
Henning, R.
Hime, A.
Jaditz, S.
Kachulis, C.
Kearns, E.
Kelsey, J.
Klein, J. R.
Latorre, A.
Lawson, I.
Linden, S.
Lopez, F.
McKinsey, D. N.
MacMullin, S.
Mastbaum, A.
Mei, D. -M.
Monroe, J.
Nikkel, J. A.
Oertel, J.
Gann, G. D. Orebi
Palladino, K.
Perumpilly, G.
Rodriguez, L.
Schnee, R.
Seibert, S.
Walding, J.
Wang, B.
Wang, J.
Zhang, C.
Publication Year :: 2014
Abstract: The direct search for dark matter is entering a period of increased sensitivity to the hypothetical Weakly Interacting Massive Particle (WIMP). One such technology that is being examined is a scintillation only noble liquid experiment, MiniCLEAN. MiniCLEAN utilizes over 500 kg of liquid cryogen to detect nuclear recoils from WIMP dark matter and serves as a demonstration for a future detector of order 50 to 100 tonnes. The liquid cryogen is interchangeable between argon and neon to study the A$^{2}$ dependence of the potential signal and examine backgrounds. MiniCLEAN utilizes a unique modular design with spherical geometry to maximize the light yield using cold photomultiplier tubes in a single-phase detector. Pulse shape discrimination techniques are used to separate nuclear recoil signals from electron recoil backgrounds. MiniCLEAN will be spiked with additional $^{39}$Ar to demonstrate the effective reach of the pulse shape discrimination capability. Assembly of the experiment is underway at SNOLAB and an update on the project is given.<br />Comment: To appear in the Proceedings of the TAUP 2013 Conference (F. Avignone & W. Haxton, editors, Physics Procedia, Elsevier)