Exploring dark matter is the dream of the world. Physicists from all over the world are working hard, and our country is fully aware of the importance of this frontier research.

Dark Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE) is one of the five satellite missions of the space science strategy of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. In December 17, 2015, China's first dark matter particle detection satellite - DAMPE, was launched, which is mainly indirect dark matter detection experiments, to look for particles of dark matter, to study dark matter characteristics and spatial distribution, to explore the origin of cosmic rays and to observe high-energy gamma ray. This satellite detects both positive and negative electrons, as well as high-energy gamma photons, and it has better energy resolution to capture traces of dark matter.

 

 

DAMPE is a space telescope that can detect high-energy gamma rays, electrons, and cosmic rays. It consists of a plastic scintillator detector (PSD), Silicon Microstrip (STK), tungsten plate, electromagnetic calorimeter (BGO) and neutron detector. DAMPE rotates around the earth, and the four layer of scientific probes will face space, to fully accepting high-energy electrons and gamma rays from all sides of the universe. This is equivalent to a “ultra high definition telescope" that can “remove the veil of the atmosphere" placed in the universe by scientists. All collected scientific data will be saved and sent back to the ground in realtime. Once these raw data outline the "gamma ray spectrum", which reflects characteristic signals such as the polar lines of the spectrum, scientists have gained strong evidence of the existence of dark matter particles.

 

PSD, used as anti-coincidence, is composed of two layers of plastic scintillator strips. STK consists of 6 double track, with each made of two single silicon strip placed by orthogonal components. There are three layers of tungsten plate thickness are respectively 1cm, 2mm, 2mm, inserted in front of second, third, fourth layers of silicon microstrip, used as photon conversion. BGO has 14 layers, 22 per layer, orthogonal arrangement of two adjacent layers, used to measure the X-ray energy. The neutron detector is in the bottom of the calorimeter. The BGO calorimeter and the STK have about 33 radiation lengths, which is the deepest calorimeter in space.

 

Tungsten plate and tungsten alloy neutron detector are always uses in DAMPE, for tungsten has high radiation absorption ability and good comprehensive performances. Tungsten alloy detector can track the position, number and its transformation of the energetic electrons and gamma ray universe from all sides of the universe. The application of tungsten heavy alloy in DAMPE has made great contributions to the development of aerospace industry in China.