6–13 Jul 2022
Bologna, Italy
Europe/Rome timezone

In Search of Cosmic-Ray Antinuclei from Dark Matter with the GAPS Experiment

8 Jul 2022, 17:00
20m
Room 11 (Magenta A)

Room 11 (Magenta A)

Parallel Talk Dark Matter Dark Matter

Speaker

Mengjiao Xiao (MIT)

Description

The General Antiparticle Spectrometer (GAPS) is the first experiment optimized to identify low-energy (<0.25 GeV/n) cosmic antinuclei, in particular antideuterons from dark matter annihilation or decay. Using a novel detection approach which relies on exotic atom formation and decay, the GAPS program will deliver an unprecedented sensitivity to cosmic antideuterons, an essentially background-free signature of various dark matter models, as well as a high-statistics antiproton spectrum in an unexplored energy range and leading sensitivity to cosmic antihelium. GAPS is currently under integration and preparing for the first Antarctic balloon flight while two follow-up flights are planned.
In this contribution, we will present GAPS custom-developed instrument technology, including large-area silicon detectors and a large-acceptance time-of-flight system, as well as detailed simulation studies, while focusing on the anticipated scientific impact of the GAPS program on cosmic-ray searches for dark matter, and the path forward to the initial flight.

In-person participation No

Primary author

Presentation materials