DAMA
Collaboration:
Location of the experiment: Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS)
National Responsible: R. Bernabei (Roma2)
1. Goal of the experiment
The
DAMA experiment is an observatory for rare processes such as: i)
Dark Matter particles investigation; ii) charge
non-conserving (CNC) processes as electron decays in different
channels, CNC electron capture in different isotopes; iii)
nucleon and di-nucleon decay into invisible channels, in
different isotopes; iv) solar axions search; v) neutral SIMPs and
neutral nuclearites search; vi) bb decay processes in different
isotopes.
2.
Activities during 2002
The
main goals achieved in the given period are:
~100
kg NaI(Tl) set-up
The
LIBRA (Large sodium Iodide Bulk for RAre processes; ~250 kg of
highly radiopure NaI(Tl)) set-up
~6.5
kg LXe set-up
R&D
set-up
miscellaneous
The following achievements have been obtained:
Milestones 2003
Tests
and runs with the LIBRA set-up |
31-12-2003 |
Analysis
of the previously collected data |
31-12-2003 |
Data
taking with Xenon enriched either in 129Xe or in 136Xe
and related data analyses |
31-12-2003 |
Data
taking with the R&D set-up using various
scintillators |
31-12-2003 |
3. INFN contribution to the experiment in terms of manpower and financial support
4. Number of publications in refereed journals (in 2002): 7
5. Number of talks to conferences (in 2002): 13
6. Number of undergraduate and doctoral thesis on the experiment:
3
doctoral thesis in progress
7. Leadership roles and primary responsibilities of the experiment
8. Innovative instruments
Development of radiopure detectors, PMTs and overall set-ups.
9. Competing experiments
As regards the 100 kg NaI(Tl) set-up,
we recall that no other set-up with similar features (well known
technique, radiopurity, exposed mass, complete monitoring and
control of the running parameters, energy threshold etc.) is
available to effectively search for the WIMP annual modulation
signature. Moreover, it offers also the possibility to
competitively exploit various other approaches (pulse shape
discrimination of the electromagnetic background, search for
exotic candidates etc.) and to investigate several other rare
processes. This set-up has concluded the data taking in 2002.
The new ~250 kg NaI(Tl) LIBRA set-up
(whose installation has been largely performed since fall 2002)
has even an increased competitiveness with respect to the
previous 100 kg NaI(Tl) set-up discussed above.
As regards the about 2 1 (i.e. about
6.5 kg) liquid Xenon (LXe) pure scintillator set-up, we
recall that no other set-up with similar features (Kr-free Xenon
gas enriched in particular isotopes, radiopurity, exposed mass,
complete monitoring and control of the running parameters, energy
threshold, effective far UV light collection, etc.) is available.
This set-up has been periodically upgraded to further increase
its performances and sensitivity. Since August 2000 it can be
alternatively filled with Kr-free Xenon gas enriched at 99.5 % in
129Xe or at 68.8 % in 136Xe. The advantage
to use Kr-free gases as well as the enrichements in these two
isotopes can be easily inferred.
As regards the CaF2(Eu),
competitive results have been achieved with previous prototypes;
future possibilities will be considered.
The features of the
R&D set-up assures the possibility of competitive
small scale experiments; some of them are in progress.
The low background Ge assures a
continuum and effective work for material selection
10. International committee which has reviewed the experiment
The experiment is reviewed by the funding authorities of INFN and has also been periodically reviewed by the Scientific Committee of the LNGS. Chinese activity is funded by the National Natural Science Fund of China and Academia Sinica.