Work

Probing Sub-GeV Dark Matter with the Migdal Effect at JUNO

Year: 2026

Type: preprint

Abstract: We discuss the sensitivity of the JUNO neutrino detector to the Migdal ionization signal triggered by nuclear scattering events produced by sub-GeV weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs). Exploiting JUNO's large target mass and the annual modulation effect we find that the aggregate rate from many independent and indistinguishable WIMP events in JUNO's liquid scintillator can be isolated from the total dark rate of the photomultipliers, potentially providing for spin-dependent interactions a world-leading sensitivity across the sub-GeV mass range.

Source: arXiv (Cornell University)

DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2608.18609

Authors: Scopel, Stefano, Tomar, Gaurav

Institution: Sogang University

Topic: Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena

Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Research Foundation, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Sogang University, National Research Foundation of Korea, Technische Universität München, Ministry of Science and ICT, South Korea

Awards: G4066435496, EXC 2094: ORIGINS: Vom Ursprung des Universums bis zu den ersten Bausteinen des Lebens, G6159057712, G6559744081

OpenAlex ID: W7203945989

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