Imaging nuclear recoils with light-sheet microscopy

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.