Dark-Matter–Electron Detectors for Dark-Matter–Nucleon Interactions

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: In a seminal paper now a decade old, it was shown that dark-matter detectors geared at probing interactions with nucleons could also be used to probe dark-matter interactions with electrons. In this Letter, we show that new detector concepts designed to probe dark-matter-electron interactions at low masses can similarly be used to probe new parameter space for dark-matter-nucleon interactions. We demonstrate the power of this approach by using existing data from superconducting detectors to place new limits on the interactions of nuclei with MeV-scale dark matter. Further, we show that advances in detector technology that have been anticipated for electronic interactions will automatically extend sensitivity deep into uncharted territory for nuclear interactions. This doubles the effective science output of future low-threshold experiments.

Source: Physical Review Letters

DOI: 10.1103/6qqv-rl7q

Authors: Sinéad M. Griffin, Guy Daniel Hadas, Yonit Hochberg, Katherine Inzani, Benjamin V. Lehmann

Institutions: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Molecular Foundry, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Cornell University, University of Nottingham, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena

Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,750

Funders: U.S. Department of Energy, National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center, University of Warwick, European Commission, United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation, Israel Science Foundation, Office of Science, Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, European Research Council, Basic Energy Sciences, High Energy Physics

OpenAlex ID: W4414628457