1303.2686 (J. I. Collar)

Applications of an Y-88/Be photo-neutron calibration source to Dark
Matter and Neutrino Experiments    [PDF]

J. I. Collar

The low-energy monochromatic neutron emission from an Y-88/Be source can be exploited to mimic the few keVnr nuclear recoils expected from low-mass Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) and coherent scattering of neutrinos off nuclei. Using this source, a ~<10% quenching factor is measured for sodium recoils below 24 keVnr in NaI[Tl]. This is considerably smaller than the 30% typically adopted in the interpretation of the DAMA/LIBRA dark matter experiment, resulting in an increase of its tension with other negative searches. The method is illustrated for other target materials (superheated and noble liquids).

View original: http://arxiv.org/abs/1303.2686