Directly detecting sub-GeV dark matter with electrons from nuclear scattering
High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
2018-09-12 v2 Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
High Energy Physics - Experiment
Abstract
Dark matter (DM) particles with mass in the sub-GeV range are an attractive alternative to heavier weakly-interacting massive particles, but direct detection of such light particles is challenging. If however DM-nucleus scattering leads to ionisation of the recoiling atom, the resulting electron may be detected even if the nuclear recoil is unobservable. We demonstrate that including this effect significantly enhances direct detection sensitivity to sub-GeV DM. Existing experiments set world-leading limits, and future experiments may probe the cross sections relevant for thermal freeze-out.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1711.09906,
title = {Directly detecting sub-GeV dark matter with electrons from nuclear scattering},
author = {Matthew J. Dolan and Felix Kahlhoefer and Christopher McCabe},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1711.09906},
year = {2018}
}
Comments
8 pages revtex4, 5 figures; v2: analysis updated to include constraints from XENON1T; accepted for publication in PRL