Interdisciplinary Instrumentation Colloquium

Peter Sorensen (LBNL): "The race to detect dark matter in the laboratory (or hit the neutrino floor trying)"

Name: Peter Sorensen (LBNL): "The race to detect dark matter in the laboratory (or hit the neutrino floor trying)"
Start: 2019-05-29T12:00:00-07:00
End: 2019-05-29T13:00:00-07:00
Location: 050

Wednesday 29 May 2019, 12:00 → 13:00 US/Pacific

Auditorium (050)

Auditorium

050

LBNL - Bldg. 50 Auditorium

Description

Abstract:

We know dark matter exists from its gravitational interaction. But in order to study its microscopic properties we need the ability to observe it in the laboratory, via a different interaction. I will briefly review the leading technologies and the null result status of searches for interactions of dark matter with ordinary matter. It is often asked "if we continue to turn up null results, when should we stop searching for matter – dark matter interactions?". In the case of the Weakly Interacting Massive Particle (WIMP) model, predicted by Supersymmetry, the answer is easy: searches as we know them will end when an experiment reaches a sensitivity corresponding to the neutrino floor. New technologies will be required to push beyond this barrier. I will describe the instrumentation challenges for reaching the neutrino floor, and discuss ideas to build new or upgrade current experiments to reach this milestone.