Study of Dark Matter with directionality approach using ZnWO$_4$ crystal scintillators

Abstract

Developing low-background anisotropic scintillators can provide a completely unique manner to have a look at the Dark Matter (DM) particle issue withinside the galactic halo, that's capable of setting off nuclear recoils, via the directionality technique. In particular, the ZnWO₄ crystal scintillator is an excellent candidate for this sort of research, thanks to its distinctive characteristics. In fact, each the light output and also the shape of the scintillation pulse rely on the arrival direction of heavy particles ($\alpha$ particles and nuclear recoils) with relation to the crystal axes and might provide two separated modes to study the directionality and distinguish the $\gamma/\beta$ radiation. In addition, because of the difference in mass of the three target nuclei, Zn, W and O, the detector is sensitive to small and large DM candidates masses.
Considering this, the ADAMO project performed new measurements to study the anisotropy of a ZnWO₄ scintillator to $\alpha$ particles and to nuclear recoils induced by neutron scattering. These are here presented.