Investigations on particle DArk MAtter and other rare processes with highly radiopure scintillators @ Gran Sasso
(group leader: Prof. R. Bernabei)
DAMA is an observatory for rare processes, based on the
developments and use of highly radiopure scintillators.
It has also been a pioneer activity in the direct investigation of
Dark Matter particles in the galactic halo.
In particular, the 1st generation
DAMA/NaI (~100 kg highly radiopure NaI(Tl) set-up
pointed out over 7 annual cycles (exposure: 0.29 ton x year)
a model independent evidence for the
presence of Dark Matter particles
in the galactic halo with high confidence level.
The 2nd generation experiment
DAMA/LIBRA (~250 kg highly radiopure NaI(Tl)) set-up
has recently confirmed this model independent result over
the first four annual cycles (exposure: 0.53 ton x year)
also at high confidence level (8.2 standard deviation for
the cumulative exposure of 0.82 ton x year). No experiment
whose results can be directly compared in a model independent
way with these ones is available in the field.
The first upgrading of DAMA/LIBRA has occurred in September 2008.
Other experiments are running and/or in preparation; in particular,
the pioneer DAMA/LXe pure liquid Xenon scintillator (filled with Kr-free
Xenon enriched either in 129Xe or in 136Xe),
the low background DAMA/R&D (for small scale exps.)
set-up and DAMA/Ge. Moreover, an R&D towards a possible
DAMA/1ton (DAMA proposed since 1996) is in progress.