Dark Matter Direct Detection in the DarkSide-20k Experiment

The nature of dark matter is one of the fundamental questions about the universe today, at the forefront of physics research. Direct detection experiments seek to observe interactions of dark matter particles with atomic nuclei. DarkSide-20k is an international collaboration engaged in a staged program to develop the next generation of liquid argon (LAr) detectors for low-background searches. The 50 tonne DarkSide-20k detector is under construction in the LNGS laboratory, in Gran Sasso, Italy, first operations planned begin in 2023. DarkSide-20k will have two orders of magnitude increase in the sensitivity over current searches for dark matter particles with masses at the TeV scale.
This studentship project is to work on development of the active veto detector photosensors, electronics, data acquisition system and simulation. As experiments become more sensitive in search of dark matter, backgrounds need to be understood at levels never before achieved. To do so, world-leading photosensor technology and readout are being developed that will allow the identification of signal and background events whilst also minimising their own radioactive footprint, a key requirement to minimise background events to the dark matter search.
This project will characterise and calibrate the photosensor hardware, contribute to building and commissioning the veto detector and develop analysis tools to analyse data. The goal is to develop a dark matter search analysis with flexibility to search for signals including exotic dark matter candidates beyond the WIMP dark matter hypothesis.