Speaker
Description
Despite overwhelming evidence for dark matter in our universe, its true nature remains a mystery. In the search for dark matter, detectors using liquid xenon are currently leading in sensitivity. However, these experiments are increasingly limited by intrinsic detector backgrounds, particularly the emanation of radon from detector materials. To address this challenge, a novel radon mitigation technique using surface coatings as radon barrier has been investigated. Systematic studies at the Max Planck Institut für Kernphysik have demonstrated that electrochemical plating with a 5 μm copper layer can reduce radon emanation by up to three orders of magnitude. This technique is now being scaled up to accommodate large vessel geometries using a newly developed setup.