ANDROMeDa
Since the discovery of carbon nanotubes in 1991 there has been widespread excitement for their unique chemical, electrical and mechanical properties. The introduction of carbon nanotubes has led to technological breakthroughs in many fields, including electronics, biotechnologies, and chemical sensors. The aim of ANDROMeDa (Aligned Nanotube Detector for Research On MeV Darkmatter) is to introduce carbon nanotubes to the field of particle detectors, by developing a novel dark matter detector: the Dark-PMT.
The Dark-PMT is composed of a cathode made of vertically-aligned carbon nanotubes which serves as a target for dark matter, and an anode equipped with a solid state detector dedicated to measure electrons emitted by the cathode. According to most dark matter models, on Earth a dark matter 'wind' is present, composed of non-relativistic (v ~ 10-3 c) particles coming from the direction of the Cygnus constellation. Dark matter particles from the wind would interact within the carbon nanotubes and eject an electron from the carbon lattice. As vertically aligned nanotubes have much lower density in the direction of the tubes, the ejected electrons would be able to leave the target, without being reabsorbed, if they travel in the direction of the tubes, which would happen most often when the tubes are pointing in the direction of Cygnus. Once outside of the target, the electrons would be accelerated by an external electric field and measured by the solid state detector. The Dark-PMT would be the first light dark matter detector with directional sensitivity, and a search based on a total mass of only 1 gram of carbon could already have world-leading sensitivity for dark matter particles with mass below 30 MeV.
The development of a novel dark matter detector based on carbon nanotubes is an exciting pioneering project which sits at a multi-disciplinary science frontier: our team is composed of experts from both particle physics and condensed matter physics. The project is largely based in Sapienza, and makes use of the nanotubes synthesized in our state-of-the-art nanotube growing facility, which was inaugurated in 2020. The nanotube characterizations will be done in LOTUS labs at Sapienza, in LASEC labs at University of Roma Tre, and at the Elettra synchrotron in Trieste.
The main aims of the project are:- the design and construction of the Dark-PMT prototype
- the development of a superior nanotube synthesis method, to produce nanotubes with ideal properties for their use as dark matter target
- the characterization of carbon nanostructures with UV and x-ray photon spectroscopy, and with angular electron energy loss analysis
- the detection of low energy electrons with solid state detectors, such as avalanche photo-diodes, silicon drift detectors, multi-channel plates.
Websites:
Thesis Opportunities:
Please contact Francesco Pandolfi and Gianluca Cavoto to learn about thesis opportunities in ANDROMeDa.
Local Coordinator
Francesco Pandolfi| Name | Surname | Role | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alice | Apponi | Associata | Dottoranda |
| Gianluca | Cavoto | Associato | Prof. Associato |
| Carlo | Mariani | Associato | Prof. Ordinario |
| Francesco | Pandolfi | Dipendente | Ricercatore |
| Ilaria | Rago | Associata | Assegnista |
| Alessandro | Ruocco | Associato | Prof. Associato |