Dark matter — established via various cosmological and astronomical observations — is a significant constituent of our Universe and remains one of the most outstanding mysteries of modern physics. The mass range of potential dark matter candidates covers more than 30 orders of magnitude. In the past, researchers have primarily focused on searching for GeV-TeV dark matter (WIMP) via nuclear recoils. However, null results from numerous large-scale, highly sensitive experiments have redirected our interests towards keV-MeV light dark matter candidates. Currently under construction, the Kamioka CryoLab is an underground facility designed to provide a low-background experimental environment for cryogenic low-mass dark matter searches. In this talk, I will present the idea, concept, status, and future perspective of the project.
About the speaker:
Suerfu was born in Inner Mongolia, China. After studying at the Tsinghua University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, he went to Princeton University for graduate school, where he obtained Master’s degree for conceptual design of directional detection of antineutrinos, and Ph.D. for developing ultra-high purity NaI(Tl) crystal detector with unprecedented background level for dark matter searches. Subsequently, he went to the University of California, Berkeley as a postdoctoral researcher in the LUX-ZEPLIN dark matter experiment, and the SPICE/HeRALD low-mass dark matter experiment. At Berkeley, he predicted and verified cosmogenic production of Ar-37, and made important contributions to the world-leading dark matter search results. In 2022, he left the Bay Area and joined KEK, Japan as an assistant professor, focusing on building a new cryogenic low-background facility in the Kamioka Underground Observatory. While mainly focusing on dark matter and neutrino physics, he also has extended research interests ranging from crystal growth and detector R&D to muon computed tomography.
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Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89389380218?pwd=YWEzM3pxZEF2Y2w1YXdsTUVmcHIwUT09
Zoom ID: 89389380218
Zoom password: 123456