Speaker
Description
Background control is a central requirement for COSINUS to perform a model-independent check of the longstanding DAMA/LIBRA DM-induced annual modulation claim. For COSINUS-Run 1, a comprehensive background assessment has been developed based on a detailed Geant4 implementation of the full detector, cryostat and shielding geometry. A dedicated material screening campaign provided the radioactive contamination inputs for all the relevant components.
Radiogenic neutron production from (α,n) reactions and spontaneous fission was simulated and propagated through the setup to determine the expected nuclear recoil rate in the relevant keV energy range. In parallel, electromagnetic backgrounds from internal and external sources, as well as from cosmogenic origin, were modeled to quantify their spectral contribution and to evaluate possible leakage into the nuclear-recoil band under realistic detector performance scenarios.
The aforementioned simulation defines the expected background for Run 1 and permits to update on the projected exposure required to perform a check of the DAMA/LIBRA signal in a model-independent way. These studies also guide material selection and shielding optimization for future runs and detector designs.
| Main Contribution topic | Direct detection |
|---|---|
| Secondary contribution topic | Instrumentation for Dark Matter |