The SuperCDMS at SNOLAB Operations Program

Year 1 and 2: The Northwestern group will lead the measurement of SuperCDMS Si and Ge detectors at the NEXUS facility, including calibration of the ionization yield and fiducial measurements using neutrons, gamma ray sources, and surface alphas and betas to study surface discrimination. We will also continue the study of neutralization, leakage and resolution as a function of biasing, baking history, applied voltage, and other operational parameters to optimize running conditions. Having access to working Ge and Si HV detectors at NEXUS will enable us to use them as “engineering model” detectors to study any outstanding questions that emerge during the full-tower tests at CUTE and science runs at SNOLAB. Figueroa-Feliciano will oversee all work at NEXUS as the L2 manager for Detector Response. Benjamin Schmidt will serve as Cryogenics Test Coordinator for the SuperCDMS dilution refrigerator tests at SNOLAB and will serve during installation and commissioning as a cryogenic expert. Northwestern group members will participate in the commissioning and first science run of SuperCDMS SNOLAB with both on-site travel and off-site shifts. Year 3: Northwestern group members will participate in science runs of SuperCDMS SNOLAB with both on-site travel and off-site shifts. Benjamin Schmidt will continue to serve as an on-call cryogenic expert in addition to normal shift duties.