February 2017

Final results of the PICASSO dark matter search experiment Astroparticle Physics, 90 (2017), 85-92

The PICASSO and COUPP collaborations decide to join forces !
The new collaboration is called PICO (picoexperiment.com)

September 2012

Prof. Stephen Hawking visits SNOLAB and PICASSO!

April 2012 

PICASSO features in a short video presenting the new SOLAB underground installations and its experiments.

PICASSO is moving to its new location in one of the so-called "Ladder - Labs" at SNOLAB! In  its new home the experiment will benefit from much more available space, easier access and an improved water shielding against ambient fast neutrons (white and green cubes). The move, which requires a major installation and rewiring effort, will be completed by mid-December.

No dark matter signal has been found, but for WIMP masses of 24 Gev/c² new stringent limits have been obtained on the spin-dependent cross section for WIMP scattering on ¹⁹F of 13.9 pb (90% CL). This result has been converted into a cross section limit for WIMP interactions on protons of 0.16 pb (90% CL). The obtained limits restrict recent interpretations of the DAMA/LIBRA annual modulation effect in terms of spin dependent interactions.

These findings were presented at TAUP 2009, July 2, Rome, Italy and a paper has been published in Physics Letters B 682 (2009) 185.

PICASSO features in "The Mystery of Dark Matter", an educational video prepared by the Perimeter Institute of Theoretical Physics.

    The PICASSO collaboration welcomes Prof. Pijushpani Bhattacharjee, Prof. Sudeb Bhattacharya, Dr. Mala Das, Prof. Satyajit Saha and Susnata Seth of the Centre for Astroparticle Physics, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics (SINP), Kolkata as new members of the collaboration.

A PICASSO paper was named as one of the Best in 2008 in the category of High-Energy Particle Physic:

As a showcase for the diversity, breadth and quality of articles published in New Journal of Physics (NJP) last year, NJP presents the Best of 2008, an exclusive compilation of just some of NJP’s article highlights from 2008. Selected on the basis of a range criteria including referee endorsements, citation and download levels, and simple broad appeal, NJP hopes that this list provides a real flavour of the journal’s scope and editorial standards.

 

 

PICASSO has successfully installed all of the 32 detectors of its ongoing Phase I with 2.6 kg active mass of 19F !
 
PICASSO is now taking data in cruising regime!

 

October 16   2008

   The PICASSO collaboration observed for the first time a significant difference between the acoustic signals induced by neutrons and alpha particles in a detector based on superheated liquids. This new discovery offers the possibility of improved background suppression and could be especially useful for dark matter experiments. This new effect may be attributed to the formation of multiple bubbles on alpha tracks, compared to single nucleations created by neutron induced recoils.

November 14   2007    

   Both, the  COUPP and PICASSO collaborations signed a Memorandum of Understanding 
 
"to work together to exploit and promote the unique capabilities of superheated liquids in the search for dark matter candidates. In particular, our goals phased over time are: 
 
To carefully investigate the potential and limitations of different technologies of the superheated liquid technique. 
 
To investigate and choose the optimal strategy for an experiment with an active mass at the 100 kg up to the one-ton scale in order to increase the sensitivity for super symmetric dark matter to cross sections < 10^-5 pb and < 10^-9 pb in the spin-dependent and spin-independent sectors, respectively. 
 
To jointly conduct such an experiment."