Simulation of MIMPs propagation in DS-20k — 43a — Benjamin DeNeui, Laura Garcia Lopez

DarkSide-20k (DS-20k) is an underground dark matter detector under construction in Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS) designed to probe WIMP-nucleon interactions. The detection sensitivity of DS-20k may allow it to detect other promising candidates such as Multiply-Interacting Massive Particles (MIMPs). MIMPs are heavy (>1010 GeV/c2) dark matter candidates that scatter multiple times on nuclei. In order to project the sensitivity of DS-20k for ultra heavy dark matter, code was developed to simulate MIMP particles entering the detector. The MIMPs particle generator creates a sphere that encloses DS-20k experiment’s outer veto, producing a uniform distribution of events on the surface of the sphere that simulates MIMPs traveling into the detector. As the MIMP travels through the Earth’s atmosphere, crust, mantle and core on its way to the detector, the generator takes into account the particle’s scattering and attenuates its velocity accordingly. The overburden of The Gran Sasso mountain range was also given special consideration in the simulation because, although LNGS is within a cave structure 1400 m under the mountain range, the lab sits ~240 m above sea level. This means that, unlike previous analysis done at laboratories such as SNOLABs, which is housed in an underground mine below sea level,  DS-20k needs to account for the fact that its shielding is not equivalent to that of other underground labs.

Augustana University
Dr. Drew Alton