Status and Sensitivity Projections for the XENON100 Dark Matter Experiment

TL;DR

The paper discusses the design, current status, and projected sensitivity of the XENON100 dark matter detector, aiming to detect WIMPs with high sensitivity and plans for future upgrades to enhance detection capabilities.

Contribution

It presents the design, performance, and sensitivity projections of the XENON100 detector, including calibration results and plans for future sensitivity improvements.

Findings

XENON100 has a total of 170 kg of xenon with low background levels.

Projected sensitivity to WIMP-nucleon cross section is 2e-45 cm2 by 2009.

Plans to upgrade XENON100 aim to improve sensitivity by an order of magnitude by 2012.

Abstract

The XENON experimental program aims to detect cold dark matter particles via their elastic collisions with xenon nuclei in two-phase time projection chambers (TPCs). We are currently testing a new TPC at the 100 kg scale, XENON100. This new, ultra-low background detector, has a total of 170 kg of xenon (65 kg in the target region and 105 kg in the active shield). It has been installed at the Gran Sasso Underground Laboratory and is currently in commissioning phase. We review the design and performance of the detector and its associated systems, present status, preliminary calibration results, background prediction and projected sensitivity. With a 6000 kg-day background-free exposure, XENON100 will reach a sensitivity to spin-independent WIMP-nucleon cross section of 2e-45 cm2 by the end of 2009. We also discuss our plan to upgrade the XENON100 experiment to improve the sensitivity by another order of magnitude by 2012.