We report the final results of the Phase II SIMPLE measurements, comprising two run stages of 15 superheated droplet detectors each, the second stage including an improved neutron shielding. The analyses includes a refined signal analysis, and revised nucleation efficiency based on reanalysis of previously-reported monochromatic neutron irradiations. The combined results yield a contour minimum of σp = 5.7 × 10 −3 pb at 35 GeV/c 2 in the spin-dependent sector of WIMP-proton interactions, the most restrictive to date for MW ≤ 60 GeV/c 2 from a direct search experiment and overlapping for the first time results previously obtained only indirectly. In the spin-independent sector, a minimum of 4.7 × 10 −6 pb at 35 GeV/c 2 is achieved, with the exclusion contour challenging a significant part of the light mass WIMP region of current interest.The search for weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) dark matter remains at the forefront of modern physics activity. Estimated to comprise ∼ 23% of the Universe mass, it is the role of direct detection efforts to elaborate its nature, and whether its interaction with nucleons is spin-independent (SI) or spin-dependent (SD). SIMPLE (Superheated Instrument for Massive ParticLe Experiments) [1] is a direct search activity using superheated liquid detectors, and one of only a few in the international panorama with sensitivity to the WIMPproton sector of the SD phase space. It is operated at the 1500 mwe level of the Low Noise Underground Laboratory (LSBB) in southern France.In [1], we reported the first results of a two stage Phase II measurement, comprising a 14.1 kgd Stage 1 exposure of 15 superheated droplet detectors (SDDs) [2-4] with a total active mass of 0.208 kg. We here provide the results of the full Phase II measurement, including a 13.67 kgd Stage 2 exposure of a second 15 SDD set, together with improved neutron shielding and a refined analysis of the individual detector run signals, sensitivities, and nucleation efficiency.A SDD consists of a dispersion of superheated liquid droplets homogeneously distributed within a gel matrix, which may undergo a transition to the gas phase upon energy deposition by incident radiation. Two conditions are required for the nucleation of the gas phase of the superheated droplets [5]: (i) the energy deposited must be greater than a thermodynamic minimum, and (ii) this * criodets@cii.fc.ul.pt energy must be deposited within a thermodynamicallydefined minimum distance (Λr c ) inside the droplet, where Λ is the nucleation parameter and r c = the thermodynamic critical bubble radius. Adjustment of the two conditions results in the necessity of depositions of order ≥ 150 keV/µm for a bubble nucleation, rendering the SDD effectively insensitive to the majority of traditional detector backgrounds (including electrons, γ's and cosmic muons) which complicate more conventional dark matter search detectors, leaving only α-and neutron-induced events.The 15 Stage 2 SDDs were fabricated as described in [1], each containing between 11-19 g of C 2 ...

Phase II of SIMPLE (Superheated Instrument for Massive ParticLe Experiments) searched for astroparticle dark matter using superheated liquid C2ClF5 droplet detectors. Each droplet generally requires an energy deposition with linear energy transfer (LET) > ∼ 150 keV/µm for a liquid-to-gas phase transition, providing an intrinsic rejection against minimum ionizing particles of order 10 −10 , and reducing the backgrounds to primarily α and neutron-induced recoil events. The droplet phase transition generates a millimetric-sized gas bubble which is recorded by acoustic means. We describe the SIMPLE detectors, their acoustic instrumentation, and the characterizations, signal analysis and data selection which yield a particle-induced, "true nucleation" event detection efficiency of better than 97% at a 95% C.L. The recoil-α event discrimination, determined using detectors first irradiated with neutrons and then doped with alpha emitters, provides a recoil identification of better than 99%; it differs from those of COUPP and PICASSO primarily as a result of their different liquids with lower critical LETs. The science measurements, comprising two shielded arrays of fifteen detectors each and a total exposure of 27.77 kgd, are detailed. Removal of the 1.94 kgd Stage 1 installation period data, which had previously been mistakenly included in the data, reduces the science exposure from 20.18 to 18.24 kgd and provides new contour minima of σp = 4.3 × 10 −3 pb at 35 GeV/c 2 in the spin-dependent sector of WIMP-proton interactions and σN = 3.6 × 10 −6 pb at 35 GeV/c 2 in the spin-independent sector. These results are examined with respect to the fluorine spin and halo parameters used in the previous data analysis.

On April 23 rd 2013 at 2:07 a. m. a 1.3 kg meteorite fell in the Braunschweig suburb Melverode (52° 13' 32.19'' N. 10° 31' 11.60'' E). Its estimated velocity was 250 km/h and it formed an impact pit in the concrete with a diameter of 7 cm and a depth of 3 cm. Radial dust striae are present around the impact pit. As a result of the impact, the meteorite disintegrated into several hundred fragments with masses up to 214 g. The meteorite is a typical L6 chondrite, moderately shocked (S4)but with a remarkably high porosity (up to 20 vol%). The meteorite was ejected from its parent body as an object with a radius of about 10-15 cm (15-50 kg). The U,Th-He gas retention age of ~550 Ma overlaps with the main impact event on the L-chondrite parent body ~470 Ma ago that is recorded by many shocked L chondrites. The preferred cosmic-ray exposure age derived from production of radionuclides and noble gas isotopes is (6.0 ± 1.3) Ma.

No abstract

No abstract