0000000000557519
AUTHOR
Klaus P. Ziock
Accelerator testing of the general antiparticle spectrometer; a novel approach to indirect dark matter detection
We report on recent accelerator testing of a prototype general antiparticle spectrometer (GAPS). GAPS is a novel approach for indirect dark matter searches that exploits the antideuterons produced in neutralino-neutralino annihilations. GAPS captures these antideuterons into a target with the subsequent formation of exotic atoms. These exotic atoms decay with the emission of X-rays of precisely defined energy and a correlated pion signature from nuclear annihilation. This signature uniquely characterizes the antideuterons. Preliminary analysis of data from a prototype GAPS in an antiproton beam at the KEK accelerator in Japan has confirmed the multi-X-ray/pion star topology and indicated X-…
Indirect Dark Matter Search with Antideuterons: Progress and Future Prospects for General Antiparticle Spectrometer (GAPS)
We report on recent accelerator testing of a prototype general antiparticle spectrometer (GAPS). GAPS is a novel approach for indirect dark matter searches that exploits the antideuterons produced in neutralino-neutralino annihilations. Many supersymmetry models, as well as other models based on extra dimensions, predict a primary antideuteron flux from dark matter annihilation that is much greater than the secondary and tertiary background sources at low energies. The GAPS method involves capturing antiparticles in a target material into excited energy states. The X-rays that are emitted as the antiparticle cascades to lower energy states before the exotic atom decays serve as a fingerprin…
Antideuterons as an indirect dark matter signature: design and preparation for a balloon-born GAPS experiment
The General Antiparticle Spectrometer (GAPS) exploits low energy antideuterons produced in neutralino-neutralino annihilations as an indirect dark matter (DM) signature that is effectively free from background. When an antiparticle is captured by a target material, it forms an exotic atom in an excited state which quickly decays by emitting X-rays of precisely defined energy and a correlated pion signature from nuclear annihilation. We have successfully demonstrated the GAPS method in an accelerator environment and are currently planning a prototype flight from Japan for 2009. This will lead to a long duration balloon (LDB) mission that will complement existing and planned direct DM searche…