Modeling Backgrounds from Light Leakage in the LZ Dark Matter Detector

Amber Krape

The LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiment uses a 10-tonnes liquid xenon detector at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in South Dakota to discover dark matter. Detector sensitivity can be improved by limiting background signals. I used Geant4 which is a particle simulation package to model potential sources of backgrounds. I found that small pockets of liquid xenon within the PTFE walls of the detector could generate enough light to be a meaningful background.

Major: 
Physics
Exhibition Category: 
Physical Sciences
Exhibition Format: 
Poster Presentation
Campus: 
University Park
Faculty Sponsor: 
Luiz de Viveiros
Poster Number: 
89