The DarkSide-20k TPC and Underground Argon Cryogenic System

TL;DR

DarkSide-20k employs a large liquid argon TPC with a novel cryogenic system to enhance dark matter detection sensitivity using underground, depleted argon in a cost-effective, integrated design.

Contribution

This paper introduces the design and initial testing results of a dedicated cryogenic system for underground argon in the DarkSide-20k experiment, featuring novel TPC and cryogenic innovations.

Findings

Successful design and testing of the UAr cryogenic system

First results demonstrating system performance and stability

Implementation of a compact, integrated TPC with novel features

Abstract

DarkSide-20k (DS-20k) will exploit the physical and chemical properties of liquid argon housed within a large dual-phase time project chamber (TPC) in its direct search for dark matter. The TPC will utilize a compact, integrated design with many novel features to enable the \SI{20}{t} fiducial volume of underground argon. Underground Argon (UAr) is sourced from underground CO$_2$ wells and depleted in the radioactive isotope $^{39}$Ar, greatly enhancing the experimental sensitivity to dark matter interactions. Sourcing and transporting the $\mathcal{O}$(\SI{100}{t}) of UAr for DS-20k is costly, and a dedicated single-closed-loop cryogenic system has been designed, constructed, and tested to handle the valuable UAr. We present an overview of the DS-20k TPC design and the first results from the UAr cryogenic system.