Abstract
The first direct detection limits on dark matter in the MeV to GeV mass range are presented, using XENON10 data. Such light dark matter can scatter with electrons, causing ionization of atoms in a detector target material and leading to single- or few-electron events. We use of data acquired in 2006 to set limits on the dark-matter—electron scattering cross section. The strongest bound is obtained at 100 MeV where at 90% C.L., while dark-matter masses between 20 MeV and 1 GeV are bounded by at 90% C.L. This analysis provides a first proof of principle that direct detection experiments can be sensitive to dark-matter candidates with masses well below the GeV scale.
- Received 20 February 2012
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.021301
© 2012 American Physical Society
Synopsis
Turning from Nuclei to Electrons for Dark-Matter Detection
Published 12 July 2012
A new analysis shows that it is possible to look for dark-matter particles with mass far below 1 giga-electron-volt by using atomic ionization.
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