abstract

Dark Matter experiments reached an incredible range of sensitivities these last years. They are now able to probe large regions of parameter space of the more popular extensions of the Standard Model (MSSM, KK modes, extra dark forces). They even become competitive with LHC discovery prospects. We try in this presentation to summarize the specific characteristics of the most favored candidates (what?), the theoretical difficulties inherent to the calculation of their different detection rates (how?) and the uncertainties related to their presence in our galaxy (where?).

abstract

Dark Matter is one of the most intriguing riddles of modern astrophysics. The Standard Cosmological Model implies that only 4.5% of the mass-energy of the Universe is baryonic matter and the remaining 95% is unknown. Of this remainder, 22% is expected to be Dark Matter — an entity that behaves like ordinary matter gravitationally but has not been yet observed in particle physics experiments and is not foreseen by the Standard Particle Model. It is expected that Dark Matter can be found in halos surrounding galaxies, the Milky Way among them, and it is hypothesized that it exists in the form of massive, weakly interacting particles i.e. WIMPs. A large experimental effort is being conducted to discover these elusive particles either directly, in underground laboratories, or indirectly, using experiments which search for decay or annihilation products of such particles in the night sky. This document aims to give a review of the status and recent results of selected Dark Matter searches.

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The aim of the ArDM project is the development and operation of a one ton double-phase liquid argon detector for direct Dark Matter searches. The detector measures both the scintillation light and the ionization charge from ionizing radiation using two independent readout systems. This paper briefly describes the detector concept and presents preliminary results from the ArDM R&D program, including a 3 l prototype developed to test the charge readout system.

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This paper summarizes the relevance of neutrinoless Double Beta Decay for neutrino physics and the implications of this phenomenon for crucial aspects of particle and astroparticle physics. After discussing general experimental concepts, like the different proposed technological approaches and the sensitivity, the present experimental situation is reviewed. The future searches are then described, providing an organic presentation which picks up similarities and differences. As a conclusion, we try to envisage what we expect round the corner and at a longer time scale.

abstract

The GERDA experiment has been designed to search for neutrinoless double beta decay of \(^{76}\)Ge. Observation of such a process would imply that the neutrino is a Majorana particle, and that the lepton number is not conserved. Establishing the half-life of the decay would also allow to estimate the effective neutrino mass. The installation of the experiment in the Gran Sasso underground laboratory of INFN/Italy has been recently completed. Deployment of the first non-enriched Ge detectors is scheduled for spring 2010.

abstract

Selected topics in the theory of neutrinos, discussed in last years, are presented. We shortly summarize properties of neutrinos in frame of the original Standard Model (SM) and give the experimental information about their masses and mixing. In the frame of the model with massive neutrinos, the so-called New SM (\(\nu \)SM), two controversial phenomena, the Mössbauer neutrinos problem and the GSI anomaly are explained. Beyond the SM (BSM) we focus on two issues, on the problem of small neutrino masses and large mixing in comparison to the quark sector and on how neutrino oscillation phenomena should be correctly described in the BSM.

abstract

Recent experimental and theoretical research in the area of neutrino interactions in the \(\sim 1\) GeV region are reviewed including topics like: the problem of value of quasielastic axial mass, neutral current \(\pi ^0\) production, coherent pion production. Many comments are devoted to status and current development of Monte Carlo events generators.

abstract

A new generation of reactor and accelerator neutrino oscillation experiments - Double Chooz, Daya Bay, Reno, T2K and NO\(\nu \)A — is ready to start a sensitive search for oscillation signals generated by the mixing parameter \(\theta _{13}\). Their output will be a fundamental milestone to optimize further experiments aimed at detecting CP violation in the neutrino sector, a key phenomenon with profound implications in particle physics and cosmology. Since late 90s, a world-wide activity is in progress to design facilities that can access CP violation in neutrino oscillation and perform high precision measurements of the lepton mixing matrix. In this paper the status of these studies will be summarized, focusing on the options that are best suited to exploit existing European facilities.

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This paper gives an overview of the work done so far to produce sufficient neutrino fluxes for neutrino oscillation physics, using beta beams. The design study on a beta beam scenario, the EURISOL (European Isotope Separation On-Line Radioactive Ion Beam Facility) Design Study, a project funded by the European Commission (EC), is now published. The study is based on the acceleration of \(^6\)He and \(^{18}\)Ne ions to produce the (anti-)neutrino beam using the existing CERN infrastructure for acceleration of the ions. We will here describe the work with emphasis on how potential show stoppers, in particular radiation safety and equipment damage, have been dealt with. New results for the production of \(^6\)He show very encouraging results. However, the ion production needed for the physics experiments could not, up to now, be reasonably satisfied for \(^{18}\)Ne. Therefore, studies of alternative beta emitters, \(^8\)Li and \(^8\)B, with properties interesting for physics reach have been proposed. The production of these ions are studied within the EC funded EUROnu project, A High Intensity Neutrino Oscillation Facility for Europe. This project will end in 2012. A small storage ring, in which the beam traverses a target, creating the \(^8\)Li and \(^8\)B isotopes, that will be collected and accelerated, is studied in this proposal. During 2009 research on production of \(^{18}\)Ne has given very satisfying results. Experiments are proposed to confirm the ideas. We present the status of the work achieved and an overview of ongoing activities to make the beta beam project a solid proposal for neutrino production within the EUROnu project.

abstract

The OPERA neutrino detector at the underground Gran Sasso Laboratory (LNGS) was designed to perform the first detection of neutrino oscillations in appearance mode through the study of \(\nu _{\mu } \to \nu _{\tau }\) oscillations. The apparatus consists of a lead/emulsion-film target complemented by electronic detectors. It is placed in the high-energy, long-baseline CERN neutrino beam (CNGS) 730 km away from the neutrino source. Runs with CNGS neutrinos were successfully carried out in 2008–2009 with the detector fully operational with its related facilities for the emulsion handling and analysis.

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The search for proton decay is nowadays one of the most important subjects of particle physics. To improve the current lower bound on the proton lifetime, massive detectors should be constructed. In the present paper attention is paid to the LAr detector. The golden channel of proton decay for this detector is \(p \rightarrow K^{\,+} \bar {\nu }\), favored by supersymmetric models. We present a new approach to the problem of particle track reconstruction implemented in the software of the T600 detector at the ICARUS experiment.

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The accelerator neutrino programme in the USA consists primarily of the Fermilab neutrino programme. Currently, Fermilab operates two neutrino beamlines, the Booster neutrino beamline and the NuMI neutrino beamline and is the planning stages for a third neutrino beam to send neutrinos to DUSEL. The experiments in the Booster neutrino beamline are miniBooNE, SciBooNE and in the future microBooNE, whereas in the NuMI beamline we have MINOS, ArgoNut, MINERVA and coming soon NO\(\nu \)A. The major experiment in the beamline to DUSEL will be LBNE.

abstract

The Tokai to Kamioka (T2K) is the second generation long baseline neutrino oscillation experiment. Its primary goal is to measure the last unknown mixing angle \(\theta _{13}\) and determine precisely the value of \(\Delta m^{2}_{23}\) and \(\theta _{23}\) oscillation parameters. The neutrino beam from J-PARC high intensity proton synchrotron travels 295 km to Super-Kamiokande detector. The status of the project and its expected physics results are presented.

abstract

The T2K long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment is running in Japan. The primary goals of the T2K are measurement of the mixing angle \(\theta _{13}\), and precise measurements of the mixing angle \(\theta _{23}\) and of the mass difference \(\Delta m^2_{23}\). The installation of the near detector complex was completed and first data were already registered. This article presents operation of the Side Muon Range Detector, a component of the Off-Axis near detector. Detector concept and implementation are presented, followed by a description of cosmic muon track reconstruction algorithm and finally current status.

abstract

NA61/SHINE, a fixed target experiment at CERN SPS, performs in its first stage of data taking (years 2007 and 2009) measurements of hadron production in hadron–nucleus interactions. Such data are needed for neutrino (T2K) and cosmic-ray (Pierre Auger and KASCADE) experiments. The NA61/SHINE apparatus offers the unique possibility of accurate measurement of hadron production, including good particle identification. For precise predictions of the T2K neutrino beam parameters the measurements are performed for 30 GeV proton interactions on thin carbon target as well as on the replica of the actual target of the T2K experiment. The preliminary results on \(\pi ^{+}\) and \(\pi ^{-}\) multiplicities from the 2007 pilot run are presented.

abstract

An alternative method of the neutrino oscillation parameter extraction is discussed. It is based on the directly observed quantities in opposition to the traditional neutrino energy reconstruction. The Monte Carlo oscillation parameter extraction algorithm is tested on the example of the predicted T2K beam profile and event statistics for the Super-Kamiokande detector. A set of MC data samples is generated using the NuWro neutrino generator in order to estimate the statistical error of the proposed method.

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Borexino is a real-time experiment for low energy neutrino spectroscopy, operating at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (Italy). Borexino is the first experiment to report a real-time observation of low energy solar neutrinos below 4.5 MeV, which were not accessible so far with the state-of-the art detector technologies because of natural radioactivity. The results reported in this work present the real-time measurement of the low energy (0.862 MeV) \(^7\)Be solar neutrinos with the Borexino detector from an analysis of 192 live days in the period from May 16, 2007 to April 12, 2008, totaling a 41.3 ton\(\cdot \)yr fiducial exposure to solar neutrinos. Additionally we show data on solar \(^8\textrm {B}\) neutrinos with an energy threshold of 2.8 MeV.

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We present an overview of the life of massive stars from the point of view of neutrino emission. Stars are persistent sources of neutrinos, starting at hydrogen ignition, continuing through the advanced burning stages and culminating during supernova explosion. Finally, the neutrino flux goes to zero as a neutron star cools down or drops rapidly if a black hole is formed. In fact, after helium burning the star’s neutrino luminosity outshines its visible photon flux by many orders of magnitude, and the visible supernova is only a pale reflection (\(\lt 1\)/10,000) of the neutrino signal. Emerging new generations of giant advanced neutrino detectors, from the LAGUNA initiative and other projects, will be able to detect not only the supernova neutrinos, but possibly also pre-supernova neutrinos and the cooling signal of proto-neutron stars.

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The boson–fermion unification offered by Supersymmetry is capable of providing remedies for various theoretical deficiencies of the experimentally established Standard Model. The Dark Matter candidate provided by a neutral Lightest Supersymmetric Particle is a prominent example. In the following we review the potential of the ATLAS experiment at the LHC to discover the most commonly considered R-parity conserving Supersymmetric scenarios, notably the mSUGRA and the GMSB models.

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Representative subset of recent searches for low energy supersymmetry using CMS detector at LHC is presented. Novel techniques and background estimates directly from data are underlined to show CMS readiness to search for new physics using first LHC data.

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The LHCb experiment is dedicated to performing a detailed study of CP symmetry violation and rare decays of \(B\) and \(D\) mesons at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN. In order to achieve these physics goals the LHCb spectrometer must provide excellent vertexing and tracking performance both off-line and on-line. The LHCb VELO (VErtex LOcator) is the silicon micro-strip detector which surrounds the collision point and hence is critical to these aims. During routine operation the VELO detector will be located 7 mm from the LHC beam.

abstract

Preliminary results on the \(pp\) collisions at \(\sqrt {s}=900\) GeV and 2.36 TeV are presented. Charged particles multiplicities at both energies are shown. Also the detector performance is discussed. All results shown here are preliminary.

abstract

Relativistic heavy ion collisions at the LHC will uncover properties of a hot and dense medium formed at a collision energy thirty times larger than the energy presently available at RHIC. ATLAS is one of the three experiments participating in the heavy ion program at the LHC. A brief overview of the variety of observables which will be measured by ATLAS to study soft and hard QCD phenomena in heavy ion environment is presented. In particular the detector will measure global observables like charged particle multiplicity, azimuthal anisotropy and energy flow. The detector provides also an excellent capability to probe the quark gluon plasma by measurement of high energy jets and photons as well as quarkonia states. Performance of a high granularity calorimeter, silicon tracking detector and muon spectrometer in heavy ion collisions is reported. The unique ATLAS potential to study Pb+Pb interactions is discussed.

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We investigate the role of the choice of the upper phase space limit \(Q\) in the Curci–Furmanski–Petronzio (CFP) factorization scheme, which exploits dimensional regularization MS scheme. We examine how the choice of \(Q\) influences the evaluation of the standard DGLAP (inclusive) evolution kernels, gaining experience needed in the construction of the exclusive Monte Carlo modelling of the NLO DGLAP evolution. In particular, we uncover three types of mechanisms which assure the independence on \(Q\) of the inclusive DGLAP kernels calculated in the CFP scheme. We use the examples of three types of the Feynman diagrams to illustrate our analysis.

abstract

Underground laboratories, shielded by the Earth’s crust from the particles that rain down on the surface in the form of cosmic rays, provide the low radioactive background environment necessary to host key experiments in the field of particle and astroparticle physics, nuclear astrophysics and other disciplines that can profit of their characteristics and of their infrastructures. The cosmic silence condition existing in these laboratories allows the search for extremely rare phenomena and the exploration of the highest energy scales that cannot be reached with accelerators. I briefly describe all the facilities that are presently in operation around the world.

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The selection of Homestake Mine in Lead South Dakota by National Science Foundation (NSF) as the site for Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL) opened new research opportunities in the state of South Dakota. One of many efforts allowing the scientists a significant participation in the activities planned at DUSEL was the creation of a 2010 Research Center focused on the production of ultra-low background materials or a Center for Ultra-low Background Experiments at DUSEL (CUBED). The main objectives of this research center are: (1) to bring together the current South Dakota faculty to develop a critical mass of expertise necessary for the state’s full participation in the large-scale collaboration at DUSEL; (2) to increase the number of research faculty members in the state to complement and supplement existing expertise in nuclear physics and materials sciences; (3) to train and educate graduate and undergraduate students. The main research focus of CUBED is aimed at experiments searching for rare and difficult to detect phenomena such as neutrinoless double beta decay and dark matter. Major scientific activities proposed by CUBED include a low background counting facility, an underground crystal growth lab, a purification/depletion facility on noble gases, and an underground electroforming copper facility. We will provide detailed information of research activities at CUBED.

abstract

The selection of Homestake Mine in Lead South Dakota by the United States’ National Science Foundation (NSF) as the site for Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL) has opened new research opportunities for neutrino physics community. The proposed Long Baseline Neutrino Experiment (LBNE) will explore the interactions and transformations of a high-intensity neutrino beam by sending it from Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL) more than 1000 kilometers through the earth to DUSEL. DUSEL would be one of the world’s deepest underground laboratory and shield the LBNE neutrino detectors from cosmic particles at a depth of 4300 meters-water-equivalent (m.w.e.). Two detector technologies are considered: a 300 to 500 kTon water Cherenkov detector deployed deep underground at a DUSEL site and a 50–100 kT Liquid Argon Time-Projection Chamber (TPC). The physics sensitivities of the proposed experiments are summarized. We find that conventional horn focused wide-band neutrino beam options from FNAL aimed at a massive detector with a baseline greater than 1000 km have the best sensitivity to CP violation and the neutrino mass hierarchy for values of the mixing angle \(\theta _{13}\) down to \(2^{\rm o}\).

abstract

The feasibility of a next generation neutrino observatory in Europe is being considered within the LAGUNA design study. To accommodate giant neutrino detectors and shield them from cosmic rays, a new very large underground infrastructure is required. Seven potential candidate sites in different parts of Europe and at several distances from CERN are being studied: Boulby (UK), Canfranc (Spain), Fréjus (France/Italy), Pyhäsalmi (Finland), Polkowice–Sieroszowice (Poland), Slanic (Romania) and Umbria (Italy). The design study aims at the comprehensive and coordinated technical assessment of each site, at a coherent cost estimation, and at a prioritization of the sites within the summer 2010.

abstract

MEMPHYS is a proposed \(0.5\) Mton scale water Čerenkov experiment to be performed deep underground. Possible sites are under study in the European FP\(7\) design study LAGUNA. It is dedicated to nucleon decay, neutrinos from supernovæ, solar and atmospheric neutrinos, as well as neutrinos from a future Super-Beam or \(\beta \)-Beam. Its performance with neutrino beams includes the possibility of measuring the mixing angle \(\theta _{13}\), the CP-violating phase \(\delta \) and the mass hierarchy. One R\(\&\)D item currently being carried out is MEMPHYNO, a small-scale prototype with the main purpose of serving as a test bench for new photodetection and data acquisition solutions, such as grouped readout system. We review here the MEMPHYS physics reach and present the status of the MEMPHYNO prototype.

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The large-volume liquid-scintillator detector LENA (Low Energy Neutrino Astronomy) has been proposed as a next-generation experiment for low-energy neutrinos. High-precision spectroscopy of solar, Supernova and geo-neutrinos provides a new access to the otherwise unobservable interiors of Earth, Sun and heavy stars. Due to the potent background discrimination, the detection of the Diffuse Supernova Neutrino Background is expected for the first time in LENA. The sensitivity of the proton lifetime for the decay into \(K^{\,+}\bar \nu \) will be increased by an order of magnitude over existing experimental limits. Recent studies indicate that liquid-scintillator detectors are capable to reconstruct neutrino events even at GeV energies, providing the opportunity to use LENA as far detector in a long-baseline neutrino beam experiment.

abstract

In this paper an overall view of the Feasibility Study to host a LAGUNA detector in the Canfranc Underground Laboratory is presented.

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After a brief review of the present laboratory (LSM) at the Fréjus site and of the project of a first extension of it, mainly devoted to the next generation of Dark Matter and Double \(\beta \) Decay experiments, a short introduction to the LAGUNA Design Study is presented. Seven underground sites in Europe are considered in LAGUNA and are under study as candidates for the installation of (\(10^5\)–\(10^6\)) ton scale detectors using three different techniques: a liquid Argon TPC (GLACIER), a liquid scintillator detector (LENA) and a water Čerenkov (MEMPHYS), all mainly aimed at investigation of proton decay and properties of neutrinos from SuperNovae and other astrophysical sources as well as from accelerators (Super-beams and/or Beta-beams from CERN). One of the seven sites is located at Fréjus, near the present LSM laboratory, and the results of the feasibility study for it are presented and discussed.

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Pyhäsalmi mine in Finland is evaluated as one of the seven proposed sites to host LAGUNA — Large Apparatus studying Grand Unification and Neutrino Astrophysics. A number of arguments based on geology, background from nuclear power plants, political and legal conditions, as well as engineering analysis and the presence of the needed infrastructure are all in favour of the Finnish site.

abstract

The design of a large detection infrastructure for measurements of very rare events like proton decay, or neutrino astrophysics, is in preparation and has a strong support from EU by the FP7 project LAGUNA (Design of a pan-European Infrastructure for Large Apparatus studying Grand Unification and Neutrino Astrophysics). The project has the main goal to establish the best location for a huge underground detector. The location will be selected from 7 underground laboratories from Great Britain, France, Spain, Finland, Italy, Poland and Romania. The LAGUNA site will be chosen taking into account different criteria, e.g. the depth of the site i.e. the ability to absorb and shield against high energy muons, the available space and possibility to install a large volume detector inside (larger than 70 000 m\(^{3}\)), and the natural radiation background. The site proposed in Romania is located in the salt mine Slanic Prahova. Three detector types are investigated based on different active detection media: MEMPHYS-water, LENA-liquid scintillator and GLACIER-liquid argon.

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The Polkowice–Sieroszowice mine in one of the seven candidates for the future pan-European underground laboratory studied in the framework of the LAGUNA project. We review the evidence that from the point of view of geology, long-term plans for the mine and existing infrastructure, and support of the authorities this is a perfect place to host the 100 kton liquid argon detector GLACIER.

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Due to their low radioactivity background, underground physics laboratories offer a unique possibility for investigating extremely rare phenomena like proton decay, dark matter signals or neutrino physics/astrophysics related issues. The knowledge of the natural radioactivity background is essential for the success of an underground physics experiment. The following measurements of the natural radioactivity background, in the foreseen location of an underground physics laboratory in the salt layer, in the Polkowice–Sieroszowice copper mine are presented: concentration of natural radio-isotopes from in situ obtained gamma-ray spectra and from alpha spectroscopy of rock samples, radon concentration in the air and the dose determination.