Speaker
Description
Particle detectors with sensitivity to the directions of low‑energy nuclear recoils open access to previously unprobed physics. Directional detection of coherent elastic neutrino–nucleus scattering (CEvNS) would enable searches for potential beyond‑the‑Standard‑Model (BSM) effects in this interaction and provide a critical capability for exploring regions of dark‑matter parameter space obscured by solar‑neutrino backgrounds. At present, the only detectors capable of time‑resolved directional recoil imaging are gaseous time‑projection chambers (TPCs). Such detectors require large active volumes and highly granular, large‑area readout planes, leading to substantial channel counts and associated cost. We report on the status of a 40‑L gaseous TPC employing Micromegas amplification and charge readout via orthogonal X/Y strips. The detector is designed to demonstrate a path toward cost‑effective scaling of directional detection to much larger target volumes. We also outline near‑term plans for operating this detector at the Oak Ridge Spallation Neutron Source.
