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Physics & Astronomy Colloquium – Spring 2020 – Ignarra
March 11, 2020 @ 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Speaker: Christina Ignarra (Stanford)
Title: Expanding the Science Reach of Dark Matter Detection with the LZ Experiment
Abstract: LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) is a 10 tonne liquid xenon Time Projection Chamber (TPC) which will search for Weakly Interacting Massive Particle (WIMP) dark matter via direct scattering from xenon nuclei. This talk will give an overview of the LZ experiment and describe searches for nonstandard interactions governed by Effective Field Theory (EFT). The resulting nuclear responses from such interactions can lead to higher energy recoil spectra and signatures compared with conventional signals. I will also discuss technical innovations in areas such as high voltage, purification, and calibrations, which will allow us to improve sensitivity in both the high and low energy regimes.