The DarkSide Program at LNGS

TL;DR

DarkSide is a dark matter detection program utilizing low-background argon detectors with novel shielding, aiming to identify rare nuclear recoil events indicative of dark matter.

Contribution

Introduction of a new low-background argon detector technology and active shielding for direct dark matter detection.

Findings

Prototype detector DarkSide-10 operational at LNGS.

Expected deployment of DarkSide-50 for physics runs.

Design demonstrates potential for low residual background detection.

Abstract

DarkSide is a direct detection dark matter program based on two phase time projection chambers with depleted argon targets. The DarkSide detectors are designed, using novel low background techniques and active shielding, to be capable of demonstrating in situ a very low level of residual background. This means that each detector in the DarkSide program should have the ability to make a convincing claim of dark matter detection based on the observation of a few nuclear recoil events. The collaboration is currently operating a 10 kg prototype detector, DarkSide-10, in Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso, Italy, while the first physics detector in the program, DarkSide-50, is expected to be deployed at LNGS at the end of 2012.