College 3 Seminar | Directional Detection as a Tool for Rare-Event Searches

Elizabeth Tilly
University of New Mexico
tillyeg01@unm.edu

Measuring the initial scattering angle of a particle track provides powerful discrimination in rare-event searches and can enhance detector characterization. The Migdal effect--characterized by a nuclear recoil and an electron recoil originating from the same vertex--is an inherently directional signal. In this talk, I will present my work with the Migdal In Galactic Dark mAtter expLoration (MIGDAL) experiment which uses a GEM-based TPC. I will discuss the development of our 3D track reconstruction algorithms and studies exploiting its angular resolution to characterize detector response. I will also discuss measurements of drift properties in negative ion drift gas mixtures, maximizing noble gas components with the aim of improving spatial resolution for MIGDAL Phase II. Together these demonstrate the power and versatility of precise directional track reconstruction for next-generation rare-event searches.

Hanno Filter (College 3 Secretary)

External visitors may ask for a site access