Report
Teaser, summary, work performed and final results
Periodic Reporting for period 2 - ARIADNE (ARgon ImAging DetectioN chambEr)
Teaser
The Standard Model (SM) of Particle Physics is a theoretical model that explains how fundamental particles and three of the four fundamental forces (electromagnetic, weak and strong nuclear) relate to each other. The SM fails to explain phenomena such as, Dark Matter, Dark...
Summary
The Standard Model (SM) of Particle Physics is a theoretical model that explains how fundamental particles and three of the four fundamental forces (electromagnetic, weak and strong nuclear) relate to each other. The SM fails to explain phenomena such as, Dark Matter, Dark Energy and the Matter – Antimatter asymmetry in the Universe. These all provide evidence that physics exists beyond the SM. Neutrinos are the only detected sub-atomic particle that challenge the SM. Neutrinos are electrically neutral, nearly massless sub-atomic particles that are everywhere in the Universe. However, they are extremely elusive to detect. Liquid Argon (LAr) detectors are key for both Neutrino Physics and Dark Matter searches. ARIADNE is a ton-scale liquid argon detector developing game changing optical based imaging of particle interactions. This approach has the potential to revolutionize future giant LAr Neutrino experiment design, offering high-resolution imaging and a lower energy threshold thus enhancing the potential for new Particle Physics discoveries.
Work performed
The ARIADNE detector has been designed, including development of many innovative components and importantly an innovative optical readout system using ultra-sensitive cameras. The construction of ARIADNE has now taken place and the completed detector has been positioned at a beam line at CERN for data collection in a controlled environment. The data collection has allowed for the detector to be characterized and thoroughly understood. Data has also been collected that can now be used for physics analysis. The new optical readout technology has photographically captured beautiful images of particles interacting within the detector.
Final results
Existing Time Projection Chamber (TPC) readout technology is based on measuring electric charge, and this method is planned to be used in future large-scale single- and two-phase TPC experiments for neutrino physics. Using ARIADNE’s optical readout method as an alternative to current methods in two-phase TPCs would give several advantages, such as better spatial resolution, reduced cost and complexity of detector design and construction, and lower energy detection thresholds. Analysis of the large statistics data collected at CERN is ongoing and will provide physics insights, event reconstruction and particle identification. The detector is also undergoing further enhancements and more operations are planned within the Liverpool liquid argon facility.
Website & more info
More info: http://hep.ph.liv.ac.uk/ariadne/.