HYBRID TALK | Mengjiao Xiao (MIT) “In Search of Cosmic-Ray Antinuclei from Dark Matter with the GAPS Experiment”

Abstract:
The origin of dark matter is a driving question of modern physics. Finding dark matter in the laboratory and elucidating its properties could revolutionize our understanding of the fundamental building blocks of the universe. The common challenges for dark matter searches in astrophysical signatures are large and uncertain backgrounds. The General Antiparticle Spectrometer (GAPS) is a balloon-borne experiment designed to identify low-energy cosmic antinuclei, in particular antideuterons from dark matter annihilation or decay, using the uniquely characterized atomic X-rays and charged particles from the decay of exotic atoms. With such a novel detection approach, benefitting from a custom- d eveloped large- area silicon tracker and a large-acceptance Time-of-Flight system, GAPS is sensitive to antideuterons and even antiheliums with the kinetic energy ≤0.25 GeV/n, which should offer an essentially background-free region to probe many generic dark matter models. Additionally, GAPS will collect a high-statistics antiproton spectrum in an unexplored energy range, and open a sensitivity to cosmic antihelium.

The GAPS instrument consists of a tracker of >1000 custom Si(Li) detectors; a precision- timing, large-area time-of-flight system; and a novel oscillating heat pipe thermal system. GAPS is currently under integration and preparing for the first Antarctic balloon flight in late 2023 while two follow-up flights are planned. This talk will present the science impact of the GAPS experiment, while focusing on its custom-developed instrument technology, including the design principle, commissioning of the GAPS functional prototype, integration and testing of GAPS full payload, and the path forward to the initial flight.

http://physics.lbl.gov/rpm/index.php/events/

If you are looking to confirm if there is an event, due to room reservation, please go to RPM website for a list of all scheduled talks.
──────────
Troy Cortez is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://lbnl.zoom.us/j/91782268585

Meeting ID: 917 8226 8585
One tap mobile
+16699006833,,91782268585# US (San Jose)
+13462487799,,91782268585# US (Houston)

Dial by your location
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Meeting ID: 917 8226 8585
Find your local number: https://lbnl.zoom.us/u/abeLb1T4q1

Join by SIP
91782268585@zoomcrc.com

Join by H.323
162.255.37.11 (US West)
162.255.36.11 (US East)
115.114.131.7 (India Mumbai)
115.114.115.7 (India Hyderabad)
213.19.144.110 (EMEA)
103.122.166.55 (Australia)
64.211.144.160 (Brazil)
69.174.57.160 (Canada)
207.226.132.110 (Japan)
Meeting ID: 917 8226 8585