MIMAC : A Micro-TPC Matrix of Chambers for direct detection of Wimps

Abstract

The project of a micro-TPC matrix of chambers of He3 and CF4 for direct detection of non-baryonic dark matter is outlined. The privileged properties of He3 are highlighted. The double detection (ionization - projection of tracks) will assure the electron-recoil discrimination. The complementarity of MIMAC for supersymmetric dark matter search with respect to other experiments is illustrated.The modular character of the detector allows to have different gases to get A-dependence. The pressure degreee of freedom gives the possibility to work at high and low pressures. The low pressure regime gives the possibility to get the directionality of the tracks. The first measurements of ionization at very few keVs for He3 in CF4 gas are described.

to be published in the Proceedings of the Third Symposium on Large TPCs for Low Energy Rare Event Detection, 11 - 12 December 2006, Paris