DAMA
Experiment home page: http://www.lngs.infn.it/lngs/htexts/dama/welcome.html
The investigations indicated in the goal of
the experiment allow to search for Physics beyond the Standard
Model of particle Physics. In particular, the experiment is
mainly devoted to the identification of one of the major
component of the missing mass of the Universe: the WIMPs (Weakly
Interacting Massive Particles).
The experimental set-ups are realized by
developing and using several kinds of radiopure scintillators. In
particular, the set-ups are:
i) the ~100 kg highly radiopure NaI(Tl)
set-up (mainly devoted to the investigation of the WIMP annual
modulation signature), which has completed its data taking in
July 2002;
ii) the new ~250 kg highly radiopure NaI(Tl)
LIBRA set-up (mainly devoted to the investigation of the WIMP
annual modulation signature), whose installation has been started
in fall 2002; it will offer further increased performances and
sensitivity.
iii) the ~6.5 l liquid Xenon (LXe)
scintillator set-up (devoted to measurements with Kr-free Xenon
enriched in particular isotopes);
iv) the set-up named R&D
that is used for measurements with prototype detectors and for
small scale experiments;
v) the low background DAMA Ge set-up
(devoted to routine measurements of samples radiopurity).
Moreover, R&D's for the further
development of higher radiopure detectors and PMTs are regularly
carried out.