Speaker
Description
Indirect dark matter searches are novel ways of dark matter detection that differ from collider and direct dark matter searches. Information beyond standard model physics can potentially be obtained by focusing on the daughter particles generated from potential DM-DM interaction,
GAPS(General Antiparticle Spectrometer) is a balloon-borne indirect dark matter search experiment mainly searching for signals of dark matter from low-energy (kinetic energy $<=$ 0.25 GeV/n) cosmic antinuclei. In particular, antideuteron production from standard astrophysical processes has a low intensity in our target energy range, giving us an almost background-free signal of dark matter annihilation and decay. GAPS flight will also offer antiproton low energy range measurements to give us new constraints. GAPS will have the capability of measuring low-energy antihelium-3 for potentially exciting new discoveries.
The active detectors of GAPS are composed of 1000 lithium-drifted silicon detectors and two layers of plastic scintillator working as time-of-flight to determine the particle velocity and direction. Currently, GAPS is being fully integrated and undergoing calibration and testing in preparation for its first Antarctic balloon flight in the austral summer of 2024. This talk will introduce indirect dark matter searches with the GAPS experiment and report the current status of the GAPS instrument, including ground testing results.
