MIMAC: A micro-tpc matrix for dark matter directional detection

TL;DR

The paper presents MIMAC, a novel micro-TPC matrix detector designed for directional dark matter detection, capable of mapping nuclear recoils to explore the galactic dark matter halo.

Contribution

Development and demonstration of a new micro-TPC matrix detector with pixelized micromegas and fast electronics for directional dark matter detection.

Findings

First bi-chamber prototype installed underground

Demonstrated gain stability and calibration in underground conditions

Showed feasibility of directional detection of dark matter

Abstract

The dark matter directional detection opens a new field in cosmology bringing the possibility to build a map of nuclear recoils that would be able to explore the galactic dark matter halo giving access to a particle characterization of such matter and the shape of the halo. The MIMAC (MIcro-tpc MAtrix of Chambers) collaboration has developed in the last years an original prototype detector based on the direct coupling of large pixelized micromegas with a devoted fast self-triggered electronics showing the feasibility of a new generation of directional detectors. The discovery potential of this search strategy is discussed and illustrated. In June 2012, the first bi-chamber prototype has been installed at Modane Underground Laboratory (LSM) and the first underground background events, the gain stability and calibration are shown.