DarkNESS Project Testing

Conference · Thu Aug 03 04:00:00 EDT 2023

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1997510· OSTI ID:1997510

Akouedjinoude, Kodjo ^[1]; Saffold, Nate ^[2]; Estrada, Juan ^[2]

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1. North Carolina State U.
2. Fermilab

This internship involved the design and assembly of a mechanical system for testing skipper-Charge Couple Devices (CCDs) for the DarkNESS project. Skipper-CCDs are highly-sensitive sensors with ultra-low readout noise that are deployed for direct detection of dark matter. DarkNESS is a CubeSat that aims to use skipper CCDs to search for dark matter decaying into X-rays. Currently, in the testing phase, the design process involved creating 3D models of mechanical adapters to operate a prototype space Multi Chip Module (sMCM) package in existing testing chambers in the CCD lab at Fermilab's IERC. The drawings were sent out to be machined, and while waiting to receive the finished adapters, we assembled a vacuum chamber for skipper-CCD testing and performed initial testing of a single CCD controlled by the space Low Threshold Acquisition (sLTA) board that will be employed on the CubeSat. The results showed that the testing conditions are optimal for data to start being taken and analyzed.

• Research Organization: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP) (SC-25)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-07CH11359
• OSTI ID: 1997510
• Report Number(s): FERMILAB-POSTER-23-154-STUDENT; oai:inspirehep.net:2684877
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English