“KMI colloquium” 25th Jan (Wed)  17：00 –
Speaker : Kentaro Miuchi (Department of Physics, Kobe University)
Title : Exploring the Nature of the Dark Matter by Direct Searches
Place : Lecture Room B5 & ZOOM  (*The location has been changed!)

Abstract : Understanding the nature of dark matter, which constitutes about one-fourth of the total energy of the universe, is one of the most important problems that lie in astrophysics, cosmology, and particle physics. Among a number of dark matter research activities, “direct” searches, which probe the scatterings of the dark matter and ordinary matters, are said to explore the dark matter in our neighborhood and contribute greatly to unraveling its true nature. In this talk, I will introduce the current status of the direct search experiments being conducted around the world. I will then describe the direct search methods with directional sensitivity that not only provides conclusive evidence for direct detection but also makes it possible to know the nature of dark matter. In particular, I will present the scopes and current status of our directional dark matter search project NEWAGE, and plans for future international collaboration with CYGNUS. Gaseous detectors are used in NEWAGE and CYGNUS to detect the three-dimensional tracks of the recoil nuclei. I will also show recent developments and some applications of these gaseous detectors such as negative-ion time projection chambers, pixel-type readout systems, surface alpha-ray detectors, and Migdal effect measurements.