Transient thermal effects in solid noble gases as materials for the detection of Dark Matter

Abstract

Noble solid gases are promising detector materials to be used in the search for dark matter. In the present paper a systematic analysis of the transient phenomena associated with the stopping of recoils in noble gases in the solid phase is performed for the first time. The investigated energy range of the recoils corresponds to the elastic scattering of WIMPs from the galactic halo in these materials. A thermal spike model, previously developed by the authors, is extended and applied to solid noble gases. Ionization, scintillation and nuclear energy loss processes are considered and included in the model, as well as the coupling between the subsystems. The development of the temperature pulse in space and time in solid Ar, Kr and Xe is analysed for different energies of the WIMP, and for different initial temperatures of the material. Phase transitions are possible in particular cases. The results of the model could be used as supplementary information in respect to ionization and scintillation, for detection and particle identification.