The large-volume detector (LVD) of the Gran Sasso Laboratory
SummaryWe describe here the LVD experiment (Large-Volume Detector) of the Gran Sasso Laboratory, which is the natural improvement of the LSD experiment (Liquid Scintillation Detector) running in the Mont Blanc Laboratory. The LVD ((31×13) m2 area, height 12 m) consists of ≈1800 tons of liquid scintillator and of a system of streamer tubes on 5 layers for reconstructing tracks of charged particles. As any experiment in an underground laboratory, which has a low statistics of events and requires long running times, the LVD is a multipurpose experiment but with different priorities of the researches. The main goal is neutrino astronomy, firstly detection of neutrinos from collapsing stars and secondly high-energy neutrinos and solar neutrinos. Since the expected number of interactions of neutrinos, from a stellar collapse is very high (of order of 900 for a collapse at the distance of the galactic centre), the LVD is, contrary to the present experiments, a real neutrino observatory, able to make a detailed analysis of the energy and temporal distributions of the burst. In addition to neutrino astrophysics, with the LVD experiment excellent possibilities exist to perform researches in cosmic-ray and high-energy elementary-particle physics.RiassuntoSi descrive l'esperimento LVD (Large Volume Detector) del laboratorio del Gran Sasso, che rappresenta il naturale sviluppo dell'esperimento LSD (Liquid Scintillation Detector) in funzione nel laboratorio del Monte Bianco. LVD (area (31×13) m2, altezza 12 m) consiste di ∼1800 tonnellate di scintillatore liquido e di un sistema di tubi a streamer su 5 piani per la ricostruzione delle tracce di particelle cariche. Come tutti gli esperimenti in laboratori sotterranei, che sono a tempi lunghi ed a bassa statistica, l'esperimento LVD è a multiscopi ma con diverse priorità delle ricerche. L'obiettivo principale è l'astronomia neutrinica, in primo luogo la rivelazione di neutrini da collassi gravitazionali stellari, e poi neutrini di alta energia e neutrini solari. Dato l'alto numero previsto di interazioni di neutrini (∼900 per un collasso alla distanza del centro galattico) da stelle collassanti, l'esperimento LVD costituisce, a differenza degli attuali esperimenti, un vero e proprio osservatorio neutrinico, in grado di compiere un'analisi dettagliata delle distribuzioni energetica e temporale del burst. Oltre all'astrofisica neutrinica, con l'esperimento LVD si possono compiere ricerche in fisica della radiazione cosmica e di particelle elementari ad altissime energie. данной работе описывается зксперимент LVD (Large Volume Detector), который будет проводиться в лаборатории Гран Cacco. LVD является естественным продолжением эксперимента LSD (Liquid Scintillation Detector) в лаборатории Монблан. LVD (площадь (31×13) м2, высота 12 м) содержит 1800 тонн жидкого сцинтиллятора и включает в себя систему стримерных детекторов, размещенных на 5 уровнях. Последние используются для реконструкции треков заряженных частиц. Как и любой длительный эксперимент в подземных условиях, когда статистика событий невелика, LVD имеет многоцелевое назначение. Научные программы, однако, будут обладать различным приоритетом. Основное внимание будет уделяться нейтринной астрономии, и в первую очередь— детектированию нейтрино от коллапсирующих звезд. Кроме того, будут проводиться исследования по регистрации нейтрино высоких энергий и солнечных нейтрино. Поскольку ожидаемое количество взаимодействий в случае прихода потока нейтрино от коллапса очень велико, порядка 900, LVD будет настоящей нейтринной обсерваторией, способной, в отличие от ведущихся сейчас экспериментов, детально исследовать энергетическое временное распределения для вспышки нейтринного излучения. В дополнение к нейтринной астрофизике, имеются очень хорошие перспективы и для исследований в области космических лучей и физики элементарных частиц высоких энергий.

title: Muon-induced background in the EDELWEISS dark matter search
abstract: A dedicated analysis of the muon-induced background in the EDELWEISS dark matter search has been performed on a data set acquired in 2009 and 2010. The total muon flux underground in the Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane (LSM) was measured to be Φ μ = ( 5.4 ± 0.2 - 0.9 + 0.5 )  muons/m 2 /d. The modular design of the μ -veto system allows the reconstruction of the muon trajectory and hence the determination of the angular dependent muon flux in LSM. The results are in good agreement with both MC simulations and earlier measurements. Synchronization of the μ -veto system with the phonon and ionization signals of the Ge detector array allowed identification of muon-induced events. Rates for all muon-induced events Γ μ = ( 0.172 ± 0.012 ) evts / ( kg d ) and of WIMP-like events Γ μ – n = 0.008 - 0.004 + 0.005 evts / ( kg d ) were extracted. After vetoing, the remaining rate of accepted muon-induced neutrons in the EDELWEISS-II dark matter search was determined to be Γ irred μ – n 6 · 10 - 4 evts / ( kg d ) at 90% C.L. Based on these results, the muon-induced background expectation for an anticipated exposure of 3000 kg d for EDELWEISS-III is N 3000 kg d μ – n 0.6 events.

title: The ZEPLIN-III dark matter detector: Performance study using an end-to-end simulation tool
abstract: We present results from a GEANT4-based Monte Carlo tool for end-to-end simulations of the ZEPLIN-III dark matter experiment. ZEPLIN-III is a two-phase detector which measures both the scintillation light and the ionisation charge generated in liquid xenon by interacting particles and radiation. The software models the instrument response to radioactive backgrounds and calibration sources, including the generation, ray-tracing and detection of the primary and secondary scintillations in liquid and gaseous xenon, and subsequent processing by data acquisition electronics. A flexible user interface allows easy modification of detector parameters at run time. Realistic datasets can be produced to help with data analysis, an example of which is the position reconstruction algorithm developed from simulated data. We present a range of simulation results confirming the original design sensitivity of a few times 10−8 pb to the WIMP-nucleon cross-section.

title: Particle polarization in inclusive reactions

title: The potential of liquid xenon for WIMP search: the ZEPLIN diagnostic array
abstract: A Liquid Xenon based WIMP detector diagnostic array is currently developed by the UKDMC with the help of international collaborators. After a brief reminder on the detection principle in Liquid Xenon, the individual detectors will be described. ZEPLIN I, a detector with a 4 kg fiducial mass with a background discrimination based on Pulse Shape Analysis, is already underground and starting operation. Two setups with improved background discrimination tools (as the ionisation is also recorded) are designed and scheduled to move underground in the second half of 2001. Both of them, ZEPLIN II and ZEPLIN III, are predicted to be sensitive to rate of 0.1–0.01 events/kg/day within 2 years of data taking. Furthermore, new ideas for lower background readout devices are studied, in order to avoid the use of PhotoMultiplier Tubes (PMTs).

title: Progress report from the UK Dark Matter search at Boulby Mine
abstract: The UK Dark Matter Collaboration is currently running a series of scintillation devices at the Boulby mine in North Yorkshire to search for the neutralino, the hypothetical WIMP solution to the dark matter problem. Results of the current NaI(T1) detector array will be discussed, illustrating a population of events of unknown origin. Diagnostic tests performed to investigate the origin of these anomalous events will be outlined, including alpha, beta and neutron calibrations.

title: A possible description of the quantum numbers in a hadronic string model
abstract: Institute of Theoretical PhysicsUniversity of Stockholm, Box 6730S-113 85 Stockholm,  We consider a critical composite superconformalstring model to desribe hadronic interactions. We present a newapproach of introducing hadronic quantum numbers in the scat-tering amplitudes. The physical states carry the quantum num-bers and form a common system of eigenfunctions of the opera-tors in this string model. We give explicit constructions of thequantum number operators.

title: Nonplanar dual model with arbitrary intercept $alpha$(0)

title: Heavy states of hadron string as weak interacting massive particles for Dark Matter
abstract: Massive states (of order 10 Gev and more) of hadron string (with scale 1 Gev) can have very small coupling constants with usual baryons of the Universe. Corresponding mean times for them are found to be order and even more than the age of the Universe. They are proposed as possible candidates for weak interacting massive particles (WIMP) of Dark Matter.

title: Hadron vertices in composite superstring model
abstract: Hadron vertices for u, d, s quark flavours are formulated in terms of interacting composite strings. The vertices for emission of pi, K mesons and nucleons are presented.

title: New superconformal string