Speaker: Sebastian Baum
Title: Paleo Detectors for Dark Matter and Supernovae
Host: Da Liu
Room: 432
Abstract: Direct detection experiments have delivered impressive limits on the interaction strength of dark matter with nuclei. A large experimental program is underway to extend the sensitivity of experiments for the direct detection of dark matter. However, such experiments are becoming increasingly difficult and costly. Recently, we proposed paleo-detectors as an alternative approach to direct detection: Instead of searching for dark matter induced nuclear recoils in a real-time laboratory experiment, we propose to search for the traces of dark matter interactions recorded in ancient minerals over geological time-scales. I will discuss this proposal, including ways to mitigate backgrounds and methods to read out tracks from ancient minerals. I will also discuss some possible applications of paleo-detectors beyond dark matter, e.g. for searching for neutrinos from core collapse supernovae.
