Abstract
The Argon Dark Matter (ArDM) experiment consists of a liquid argon (LAr) time projection chamber (TPC) sensitive to nuclear recoils, resulting from scattering of hypothetical Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) on argon targets. With an active target mass of 850 kg ArDM represents an important milestone towards developments for large LAr Dark Matter detectors. Here we present the experimental apparatus currently installed underground at the Laboratorio Subterráneo de Canfranc (LSC), Spain. We show data on gaseous or liquid argon targets recorded in 2015 during the commissioning of ArDM in single phase at zero E-field (ArDM Run I). The data confirms the overall good and stable performance of the ArDM tonne-scale LAr detector.
Highlights
Background and shielding system2.5.1 Material screening Samples of detector components were screened for radioactive traces in the HPGe radiopurity screening facility of Laboratorio Subterraneo de Canfranc (LSC) at the underground site
The Argon Dark Matter (ArDM) detector as well as its cryogenic service installation are situated in a lowering of the concrete floor in Hall A at LSC (Sala A), which serves as a large containment pool in case of accidental loss of the liquid argon (LAr)
Of the neutrons passing through the shield, only 12% have energies above 100 keV and are able to produce nuclear recoils above the threshold used for Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) searches
Summary
In order to reach low background conditions, the ArDM experiment is installed at the underground Laboratorio Subterraneo de Canfranc (LSC) [22], located under the Mount Tobazo in the central Spanish Pyrenees. The ArDM detector as well as its cryogenic service installation are situated in a lowering of the concrete floor in Hall A at LSC (Sala A), which serves as a large containment pool in case of accidental loss of the LAr. A second smaller containment volume is created by thermally isolated panels just below the main detector vessel of ArDM. A second smaller containment volume is created by thermally isolated panels just below the main detector vessel of ArDM This volume is connected to a gaseous extraction line into the railway tunnel, which can be used for a removal of argon gas in case of an accident or emptying the target. The laboratory is equipped with an emergency electrical power supply (Diesel generator) able to sustain the entire installations over several hours without intervention This includes the ArDM cryocoolers consuming about 30 kW
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