Dual-Phase Liquid Xenon Detectors for Dark Matter Searches

TL;DR

Dual-phase liquid xenon detectors utilize combined scintillation and ionization signals in TPCs to achieve high sensitivity in dark matter WIMP searches by localizing interactions and reducing background noise.

Contribution

This paper reviews the principles, current status, and future prospects of dual-phase LXe TPCs for dark matter detection, highlighting their innovative background rejection techniques.

Findings

High sensitivity to WIMP interactions demonstrated

Effective background discrimination through dual signal measurement

Potential for future large-scale dark matter experiments

Abstract

Dual-phase time projection chambers (TPCs) filled with the liquid noble gas xenon (LXe) are currently the most sensitive detectors searching for interactions of WIMP dark matter in a laboratory-based experiment. This is achieved by combining a large, monolithic dark matter target of a very low background with the capability to localize the interaction vertex in three dimensions, allowing for target fiducialization and multiple-scatter rejection. The background in dual-phase LXe TPCs is further reduced by the simultaneous measurement of the scintillation and ionization signal from a particle interaction, which is used to distinguish signal from background signatures. This article reviews the principle of dual-phase LXe TPCs, and provides an overview about running as well as future experimental efforts.