Underground Commissioning of LUX

TL;DR

LUX is a dual-phase xenon detector for dark matter detection, capable of setting new limits on WIMP interactions, with recent underground deployment and ongoing commissioning.

Contribution

This paper reports the underground deployment and commissioning status of the LUX detector, a highly sensitive dark matter search instrument.

Findings

LUX can set a WIMP-nucleon cross section limit at 2 x 10^-46 cm^2.

LUX will surpass existing dark matter limits for WIMP masses above 10 GeV.

The detector has successfully transitioned from surface to underground operation.

Abstract

LUX is a dual-phase xenon TPC designed for the direct detection of dark matter. Using 370 kg of xenon, LUX is capable of setting a WIMP-nucleon cross section limit at 2 x 10^-46 cm^2 after 300 days of running. LUX will surpass all existing dark matter limits for WIMP masses above 10 GeV within weeks of beginning its science run. Following a successful six month surface run, the detector has recently been deployed underground, and we expect completed commission in the near future. Updates on status and results are provided.