XENON 1T Demonstrator Report

Observation suggests ∼80% of all the mass of the universe currently comes from a nonluminous, nonbaryonic form of matter known as dark matter. Currently, WIMPs are one of the most favored models to explain the missing mass of the universe. XENON100, a detector experiment in Gran Sasso, has place the best upper limits for the cross section at ∼ 10−44cm2 for a 50GeV/c mass WIMP. Since detection of the WIMP remains elusive the next generation LXe experiment, XENON1T, will have a 1 tonne fiducial volume and has a projected sensitivity to ∼ 10−47cm2 for a 50GeV/c mass WIMP. In order for the next generation experiment to run efficiently and to gain the required level of purity the current gas system is inadequate. Work on the demonstrator apparatus has made significant progress towards the development of a highly efficient gas system for XENON1T. Through the chacterization of the internal pressures, addition of a heat exchanger, new liquid-gas phase bell design and automated data analysis necessary groundwork has been laid out for the next generation LXe dark matter experiment.