Looking for light from the invisible: advancing xenon experiments in the search for dark matter

by Dr Ann Wang (SLAC)

Tuesday 4 Mar 2025, 11:00 → 12:00 America/Los_Angeles

51/3-305 - Kavli 3rd Floor (SLAC)

Abstract:  One of the most compelling problems in particle physics today is to understand the nature of dark matter. Spurred by the abundant astrophysical evidence for the existence of a non-luminous type of matter, numerous theories have been proposed to describe dark matter and its interactions. We must continue to experimentally test these theories to narrow down this vast theoretical landscape. In this talk, I will summarize how we have advanced our understanding of a popular dark matter candidate using the LUX-ZEPLIN experiment, which is the most sensitive detector ever built to look for Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs). Then, I will discuss how we can expand the experimental reach of such an experiment to probe lower mass dark matter candidates. Finally, I will discuss plans to build a next-generation xenon experiment, XLZD, which will push the dark matter frontier to unprecedented cross-sections. Throughout the talk, I will highlight key areas where improvements can be made to maximize the physics potential of xenon experiments. These advancements could enable the next particle discovery, leading to a revolution as we open up a world beyond the Standard Model. 

 

Bio:  Ann Miao Wang is a research associate at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. She was previously a Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology (KIPAC) Fellow and completed her PhD in physics at Harvard. Ann is currently working on the LUX-ZEPLIN experiment, which is looking for Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in South Dakota, as well as R&D for future liquid noble dark matter detectors. Her research interests center around looking for physics beyond the Standard Model, with a focus on dark matter, and she was previously a member of the ATLAS experiment. Her PhD focused on searching for long-lived particles at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and upgrading the ATLAS muon detector for increased particle rates at the LHC.

 

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