Associate Professor
PhD Stanford University (2002)
tsaab@ufl.edu
Office: 2354 NPB
352.392.4671
Lab: B-126/128 NPB
352.392.5652
Research Group
Astrophysics Experiment
Main Research Topics
-Experimental Astrophysics
-Low temperature detectors
Research Interests
Most broadly, my research interests fall into the category of cosmology or particle astrophysics. Measurements made so far using various astronomical techniques (i.e. infra-red, optical, x-ray) have led to the construction of a specific cosmological model which describes the evolution of structures such as the galaxies we see over time. This model requires the existence of a subatomic particle (referred to as Dark Matter or WIMPs) that has yet to be observed in the laboratory. As spokesperson of the SuperCDMS collaboration,
I am involved in the design and construction of the SuperCDMS SNOLAB experiment (in collaboration with an international team of scientists) at the SNOLAB underground facility in Canada. The experiment experiment is expected to produce world leading results in dark matter searches and has the potential to observe such particles or rule out classes of theoretical candidates.
Consideration of future dark matter search techniques have led to a parallel research effort, in collaboration with three other physics faculty members at UF, focusing on the use of superfluid liquid helium as a detection medium for light dark matter candidates. This approach makes use of nano electro-mechanical system oscillators with extremely high force sensitivity as sensors for dark matter interactions in the superfluid liquid helium.
Dark Matter Plotter
Interactive Dark matter limit database and plotter
Selected Publications
First measurement of the nuclear-recoil ionization yield in silicon at 100 eV. M. F. Albakry et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 131, 091801 (August 2023)
Signatures and Detection Prospects for sub-GeV Dark Matter with Superfluid Helium. Y. You et al. Journal of High Energy Physics 7, (July 2023)
A Strategy for Low-Mass Dark Matter Searches with Cryogenic Detectors in the SuperCDMS SNOLAB Facility. M. F. Albakry et al. arXiv e-prints, (March 2022)
Constraints on low-mass, relic dark matter candidates from a surface-operated SuperCDMS single-charge sensitive detector. D. W. Amaral et al. Physical Review D, 102(9), (November 2020)
An Introduction to Dark Matter Direct Detection Searches & Techniques. T. Saab. In The Dark Secrets of the Terascale (TASI 2011) – Proceedings of the 2011 Theoretical Advanced Study Institute in Elementary Particle Physics