Kexin Liu
Ph.D. Candidate in Physics
"Hey ghost particles, let's take a selfie!"
Hi! I am a Ph.D. candidate at the Department of Physics, Tsinghua University, advised by Prof. Fei Gao. I am a member of the XENON Collaboration, working on the frontiers of dark matter direct detection and neutrino physics.
My research focuses on the XENONnT experiment at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS). I lead the analysis effort for the Solar Boron-8 Coherent Elastic Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering (CENS) measurement and the search for light WIMPs. I specialize in event reconstruction, background modeling (specifically accidental coincidence), and statistical inference.
News
Research Interests
Rare Event Searches
Leading the Solar 8B CENS analysis in XENONnT. Achieved the first indication of solar neutrinos via CENS in a dark matter detector. Also working on Light WIMP searches and investigating the “Neutrino Fog”.
Background Modeling & Detector R&D
Developed a precision model for Accidental Coincidence (AC) backgrounds, suppressing them by orders of magnitude. Engaged in R&D for Radon daughter plate-out on LXe electrodes and commissioned the LXe circulation system at Tsinghua.
Selected Publications
View on INSPIREFirst Indication of Solar B Neutrinos via Coherent Elastic Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering with XENONnT
E. Aprile et al. (XENON Collaboration)
Editors' Suggestion; APS Highlights of 2024
First Search for Light Dark Matter in the Neutrino Fog with XENONnT
E. Aprile et al. (XENON Collaboration)
Editors' Suggestion
WIMP Dark Matter Search using a 3.1 tonne-year Exposure of XENONnT
E. Aprile et al. (XENON Collaboration)
Event Selection & Background Modeling
First Dark Matter Search with Nuclear Recoils from the XENONnT Experiment
E. Aprile et al. (XENON Collaboration)
Featured in Physics
Education
Tsinghua University
2021 - Expected Jun 2026
Ph.D. in Physics
Advisor: Prof. Fei Gao | Thesis: First Measurement of the Solar B CENS in XENONnT
Sun Yat-sen University
2017 - 2021
B.Sc. in Physics
Honors Graduate | Thesis on Accidental Coincidence Background in XENON1T
Selected Talks
First Measurement of Solar B CENS in XENONnT
TAUP 2025, Xichang, China
Into the Neutrino Fog: Latest Results from XENONnT
WIN 2025, Brighton, UK
Accidental Coincidence Background in XENONnT
IDM 2024, L'Aquila, Italy