Dark Matter and Neutrinos

Fri., Sep. 17, 2021 3:30 p.m. - Fri., Sep. 17, 2021 4:30 p.m.

Location: Zoom

Abstract: Understanding the nature of dark matter (DM) and carrying out a precise measurement of neutrino properties are among the major goals of contemporary particle and astro-particle physics. Among the direct dark matter detection experiments, I will briefly talk about the direct and indirect detection experiments PICO and the proposed 50-kt Iron Calorimeter (ICAL) detector, at the upcoming India-Based Neutrino Observatory (INO) facility. PICO collaboration uses bubble chambers, located in an underground facility at SNOLAB, filled with superheated C3F8 as a detection target which has an enhanced sensitivity to DM-proton spin-dependent cross section. I will talk about various measurements and the related simulations in pursuit to build a coherent picture of the SNOLAB radiation background which is crucial to further explore the DM-nucleon parameter space. For indirect searches, we search for signatures of DM annihilation in the center of the sun, earth and the galaxy which can give rise to neutrino-antineutrino pairs and detect them at ICAl@INO. The atmospheric neutrinos in GeV range will pose a serious background to such signal neutrinos, which fortunately, can be suppressed considerably by exploiting the excellent angular resolution of the ICAL detector. The upcoming giant water cherenkov experiment Hyper-Kamiokande (Hyper-K), among other goals, aims for a precise measurement of neutrino oscillation parameters including the search for CP violation. Hyper-K is planned to start data taking in 2027, employing an upgraded J-PARC neutrino beam, will have a large statistical power and demand systematic uncertainty at the 1% level or less on neutrino oscillation measurements. To achieve this, a 1kt Intermediate Water Cherenkov Detector (IWCD) has been proposed to measure the neutrino flux and interaction cross section near the generation point of the neutrino beam before oscillation which would help understand and reduce the systematic uncertainty in the long baseline neutrino oscillation measurement at Hyper-K. I will talk about the efforts of the Regina group's in that direction.

Speaker: Dr. Deepak Tiwari, University of Regina