Simon Fiorucci (Brown Univ.) "The latest on the LUX dark matter experiment: How it got there, and where it is going"

Abstract:
LUX has set the standard for direct dark matter detection experiments since its result announcement in 2013. In order to get there, several years of science planning and incremental successes had to happen. Today LUX serves a dual purpose:
– It is still the leading, currently operating experiment in the field. I will detail the strategy toward new exciting results in the near (and even immediate) future. I will also highlight those critical advances which have allowed LUX to keep its edge.
– It is a testbed and an incubator for the next generation of dark matter experiments, and specifically LZ. Aside from training up the next generation of physicists, there are extensive plans before the end of the experiment in 2016 which promise to yield very valuable data on detector technology options, calibration techniques and validity of simulation models. I will go over these and how they fit into both LUX and LZ strategies.