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

Area of Science:

• Particle Physics
• Astrophysics
• Cosmology

Background:

• A decade-old paper showed dark matter detectors could probe nucleon and electron interactions.
• New detector concepts focus on dark matter-electron interactions at low masses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate that dark matter-electron detector concepts can probe new parameter space for dark matter-nucleon interactions.
• To establish new limits on MeV-scale dark matter interactions with nuclei.
• To highlight how advances in detector technology benefit both electron and nuclear interaction studies.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing existing data from superconducting detectors.
• Applying novel detector concepts designed for low-mass dark matter-electron interactions.
• Extrapolating anticipated advances in detector technology.

Main Results:

• New limits are placed on the interactions of nuclei with MeV-scale dark matter.
• Detector concepts for electron interactions are shown to be effective for nuclear interactions.
• Sensitivity is significantly extended into uncharted territory for nuclear interactions.

Conclusions:

• New detector concepts offer a dual benefit, probing both dark matter-electron and dark matter-nucleon interactions.
• This approach effectively doubles the science output of future low-threshold experiments.
• The study opens new avenues for exploring MeV-scale dark matter with existing and future technologies.