# Directional Dark Matter searches and the CYGNO project.

Baracchini E.

Comunicazione
III - Astrofisica
Aula GSSI Rettorato - Auditorium - Mercoledì 25 h 10:00 - 13:00
We are going to discuss the physics reach and the experimental challenges of directional WIMP-like Dark-Matter searches, illustrating the concept of the CYGNUS-TPC international Collaboration and how the CYGNO (a CYGNus TPC module with Optical readout) effort fits into it. The most innovative CYGNO's features are the exploitation of sCMOS cameras and PMTs, to optically read out the GEMs amplification of an $He:CF_4$ gas mixture at atmospheric pressure. Compared to other approaches, these choices provide an improved signal/noise ratio (thanks to the 1--2 $e^-/pixel$ noise of sCMOS and high GEMs gains) combined with full 3D reconstruction including head-tail, and sensitivity to both spin-independent and spin-dependent coupling in the low $\leq 10$ GeV WIMP mass region. We will illustrate the R&D's results obtained with 10 L detector prototype, demonstrating 3D tracking, particle identification capabilities and O(keV) energy threshold over 20 cm drift distance. We will discuss CYGNO's synergies with the ERC Consolidator Grant project INITIUM, together with the experiment timeline and expected sensitivity, also in the context of solar neutrinos measurements.