Open AccessAnnual modulation results from three-year exposure of ANAIS-112
Author(s) -
J. Amaré,
S. Cebrián,
D. Cintas,
I. Coarasa,
E. Garcı́a,
M. Martínez,
M. A. Oliván,
Y. Ortigoza,
A Ortiz de Solárzano,
J. Puimedón,
A. Salinas,
M.L. Sarsa,
P. Villar
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of physics. conference series
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.21
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1742-6596
pISSN - 1742-6588
DOI - 10.1088/1742-6596/2156/1/012024
Subject(s) - physics , dark matter , scintillator , modulation (music) , sensitivity (control systems) , signal (programming language) , nuclear physics , detector , optics , particle physics , electronic engineering , acoustics , computer science , engineering , programming language
ANAIS-112 is a dark matter direct detection experiment that operates 112 kg of NaI(Tl) scintillators at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory (LSC, Spain). Its main goal is to test in a model independent way one of the most puzzling results in the present particle physics scenario: the DAMA/LIBRA observation of an annual modulation in the detection rate compatible with that expected for dark matter. This signal is in strong tension with the negative results of other very sensitive experiments. However, until recently a direct comparison using the same target material (NaI(Tl)) was lacking. ANAIS-112 has been taking data since August 2017 in stable conditions with excellent performance. Results from the first three years are compatible with the absence of modulation and incompatible with the DAMA/LIBRA measured modulation at more than 2.5 σ C.L. This result supports the projected goal of reaching a 3 σ sensitivity to the DAMA/LIBRA result for the scheduled five-year operation.