Imaging nuclear recoils with light-sheet microscopy
ORAL
Abstract
Nuclear recoils induced by neutrons, neutrinos, and dark matter can produce vacancies in crystal lattices. In many materials, these vacancies form optically-active color centers. The PALEOCCENE collaboration is using light sheet microscopy to image nuclear recoils in large volumes of matter with micrometer-scale resolution. Commissioning data from the Virginia Tech mesoSPIM—the first dedicated light-sheet microscope specifically for looking at radiation-induced damage—will be presented. Potential applications in the fields of nuclear and high energy physics will be discussed. We also will present a path towards direct dark matter detection using lithium fluoride.
*This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation R&D through the Consortium for Monitoring, Technology, and Verification under award number DE-NA0003920 and Enabling Capabilities in Technology Consortium under Award Number DE-NA0004197 and by the National Science Foundation Growing Convergence Research award 2428507. As well as by the U.S Department of Energy Office of Science award number DE-SC0020262.
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Publication: arxiv:2503.20732
Presenters
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Samuel C Hedges
- Virginia Tech