Advances in NaI(Tl) Detectors for DM-Ice
Walter Pettus, University of Wisconsin, Madison
DM-Ice is a planned quarter-ton-scale dark matter experiment using low-background NaI(Tl) scintillating crystals. Its sensitivity to the dark matter signal depends on having a low energy threshold (few keV) and low background (about one count per kg per keV per day). Research and development efforts have focused on the development of new NaI(Tl) crystals with improved light yield and low intrinsic contamination levels. We present recent data from a set of test crystals with 37 kg total mass operating under 250 meters water equivalent overburden at Fermilab. Simulated projections of the sensitivity of DM-Ice are generated based on performance of these crystals.
Abstract Author(s): W. Pettus for the DM-Ice collaboration