Speaker
Description
DMICA is a paleo-detector concept that searches for dark matter using etched recoil pits in ancient muscovite mica. By replacing slow AFM readout with fast optical-profiler scanning, DMICA aims to extend the scanned area by about six orders of magnitude beyond the original mica search of Snowden-Ifft et al. At such exposure, radiogenic fast neutrons become an important background, motivating a reassessment of directional signatures. In this talk, I review the DMICA concept and projected sensitivity, and then revisit the directional-signature proposal of Snowden-Ifft and Westphal. Using Monte Carlo calculations and geological rotation models, I estimate the intrinsic angular asymmetry, its degradation over geological timescales, and the resulting directional discovery reach. I find that the directional signal is somewhat weaker than previously estimated, but still potentially accessible within the exposure regime targeted by DMICA.
| Do you plan to give the talk in person? | Yes |
|---|