Low Background Materials and Assay - A Supplement to the Cosmic Frontier CF1 Summary

TL;DR

This paper emphasizes the importance of low-background materials and assays in dark matter direct detection experiments, highlighting infrastructure needs to ensure radiopure materials for sensitive WIMP searches.

Contribution

It provides a detailed overview of the infrastructure requirements for sourcing and verifying radiopure materials in dark matter experiments.

Findings

Identification of key materials needed for low-background experiments

Highlighting resource gaps in material assay capabilities

Recommendations for infrastructure development

Abstract

This White Paper provides a supplement to the Snowmass Summary from CF1 (Cosmic Frontier WIMP Direct Detection). It was largely prepared during the August 2013 Community Planning Meeting and relies on information gathered from the larger dark matter community. It is a more detailed answer to the CF1 Charge: "Identify the common infrastructure required to meet the scientific and technical goals of dark matter direct detection." The community as a whole recognizes that sensitive searches for WIMPs require identification, quantification, and procurement of radiopure materials. The lack of sufficient resources in this area is a major project risk for future experiments and can limit scientific reach