About Us
The McKinsey group uses cryogenic techniques to explore low energy nuclear physics and particle astrophysics. A common theme in these experiments is the use of liquified noble gases as scintillators.
One of our main projects is Cryogenic Low Energy Astrophysics with Noble gases (CLEAN). CLEAN is an idea for a neutrino and dark matter detector that uses liquid neon and argon as targets. At the moment, our focus is searching for Weakly Interacting Massive Particles or WIMPs, a promising candidate for the missing matter in the universe. During 2008, we plan to build a 100-kg liquid argon detector called Mini-CLEAN which will be capable of setting a competitive limit on the WIMP-nucleon scattering cross section. In conjunction with the DEAP collaboration, we hope to build a tonne-scale liquid argon detector to increase the sensitivity to WIMPs by an order of magnitude or more.
The McKinsey group was formerly a contributor to XENON10, another dark matter experiment searching for WIMPs with liquid xenon as the target. The XENON10 experiment was a great success, resulting in the recent publishing of the best current limit on the WIMP-nucleon scattering cross section. We are now actively working on LUX, a second generation liquid xenon dark matter detector.
Our third area of active research represents a slightly different approach to particle detection, by observing metastable helium molecules through the use of laser induced fluorescence. There are two recent papers on this technique to be found below or via the "Papers" tab.
Please browse our website to learn more about who we are and what we do.
Recent Publications:
- > Detection and Imaging of He2 Molecules in Superfluid Helium
- > First Results from the XENON10 Dark Matter Experiment at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory
- > Scintillation time dependence and pulse shape discrimination in liquid argon
- > Talk on XENON given at TeV Particle Astrophysics, Venice, August 30, 2007
- > Talk on CLEAN detectors given at the Dark Side of the Universe, June 7, 2007
- > Preparation of Neutron-activated Xenon for Liquid Xenon Detector Calibration
- > Scintillation of Liquid Neon From Electronic and Nuclear Recoils
Postdoctoral Associate Position Available
Applications are invited for a postdoctoral position in the McKinsey group at the Yale University Department of Physics. Research possibilities include the LUX and Mini-CLEAN direct dark matter experiments, as well as the imaging of helium molecules in superfluid helium through laser-induced fluorescence. The successful applicant will have prior research experience in either cryogenics or low radioactive background physics. Applicants should send a curriculum vitae and list of publications to:
Ms. Daphne Klemme
Department of Physics
Yale University
P.O. Box 208120
New Haven, CT 06520-8120
E-mail: daphne.klemme@yale.edu
Applicants should also arrange for at least 3 letters of recommendation to be sent to the same address (email preferred).
To ensure full consideration application files must be complete by February 29, 2008.
Yale is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer; women and members of under-represented minority groups are strongly encouraged to apply.