Pulse Shape Discrimination in liquid argon and its implications for Dark Matter searches using depleted argon

TL;DR

This paper discusses pulse shape discrimination in liquid argon detectors for Dark Matter searches, highlighting its potential to improve sensitivity through isotopic depletion and presenting experimental and theoretical insights.

Contribution

It introduces methods for pulse shape discrimination in liquid argon and evaluates how isotopic depletion can enhance Dark Matter detection sensitivity.

Findings

Pulse shape discrimination effectively reduces background in liquid argon detectors.

Isotopic depletion of argon can significantly improve Dark Matter detection sensitivity.

Experimental results from a 2.3 L detector demonstrate the method's viability.

Abstract

A brief outline of Dark Matter detection experiments using liquid argon technology is presented. The Pulse Shape background discrimination method (PSD) is described and the example of its use in 2.3 l R&D detector is given. Methods of calculating sensitivity of a Dark Matter detector are discussed and used to estimate the possible improvement of sensitivity after introduction of isotopically depleted liquid argon.