The LZ Dark Matter Search Experiment

LZ is a direct dark matter search experiment will be operated at the Sanford Underground Research Facility. It will contain a purified 7-tonne liquid xenon target within an ultra-low background detector to reach unprecedented sensitivity to WIMP dark matter. LZ is currently under construction, with an ongoing programme to identify and characterise radio-pure materials, and to develop a high precision background model. These are key requirements to ensure sufficient low-background operation for identification of rare WIMP signals, and to assign statistical significance to any potential excess above expected background. This PhD project will focus on these areas, conducting low background assays with cutting edge gamma spectroscopy and mass spectrometry techniques; measurements of radon emanation; Monte Carlo simulations of the experiment to determine background rates and expected WIMP sensitivity; and development of analysis infrastructure, techniques, and algorithms.