Production Yield Of Muon-induced Neutrons In Lead: Measured At The Modane Underground Laboratory (springer Theses)

The work presented in this book is a major step towards understanding and eventually suppressing background in the direct search for dark matter particles scattering off germanium detectors. Although the flux of cosmic muons is reduced by many orders of magnitude in underground laboratories, the remaining energetic muons induce neutrons through various processes, neutrons that can potentially mimic a dark matter signal. This thesis describes the measurement of muon-induced neutrons over more than 3 years in the Modane underground laboratory. The data are complemented by a thorough modeling of the neutron signal using the GEANT4 simulation package, demonstrating the appropriateness of this tool to model these rare processes. As a result, a precise neutron production yield can be presented. Thus, future underground experiments will be able to reliably model the expected rate of muon-induced neutrons, making it possible to develop the necessary shielding concept to suppress this background component. The work presented in this book is a major step℗ltowards understanding and eventually suppressing background in the direct search for dark matter particles scattering off germanium detectors. Although the flux of cosmic muons is reduced by many orders of magnitude in underground laboratories, the remaining energetic muons induce neutrons through various processes, neutrons that can potentially mimic a dark matter signal.This thesis describes the measurement of muon-induced neutrons over more than 3 years in the Modane underground laboratory. The data are complemented by a thorough modeling of the neutron signal using the GEANT4 simulation package, demonstrating the appropriateness of this tool to model these rare processes. As a result, a precise neutron production yield can be presented. Thus, future underground experiments will be able to reliably model the expected rate of muon-induced neutrons, making it possible to develop the necessary shielding concept to suppress this background component Front Matter....Pages i-xxv Introduction....Pages 1-7 Searching Dark Matter: The Quest for the Missing Mass....Pages 9-75 Review of Muon-Induced Neutron Production at Underground Sites....Pages 77-150 Long Term Measurement of Muon-Induced Neutrons at LSM....Pages 151-206 Simulation of Muon-Induced Neutrons at LSM with Geant4....Pages 207-303 Assessment of Geant4 to Simulate the Neutron Yield in Lead at LSM....Pages 305-320 Conclusion and Outlook....Pages 321-333 Back Matter....Pages 335-382