학술논문
Search for Daily Modulation of MeV Dark Matter Signals with DAMIC-M
Document Type
Working Paper
Author
Arnquist, I.; Avalos, N.; Baxter, D.; Bertou, X.; Castello-Mor, N.; Chavarria, A. E.; Cuevas-Zepeda, J.; Dastgheibi-Fard, A.; De Dominicis, C.; Deligny, O.; Duarte-Campderros, J.; Estrada, E.; Gadola, N.; Gaior, R.; Hossbach, T.; Iddir, L.; Kavanagh, B. J.; Kilminster, B.; Lantero-Barreda, A.; Lawson, I.; Lee, S.; Letessier-Selvon, A.; Loaiza, P.; Lopez-Virto, A.; McGuire, K. J.; Mitra, P.; Munagavalasa, S.; Norcini, D.; Paul, S.; Piers, A.; Privitera, P.; Robmann, P.; Scorza, S.; Settimo, M.; Smida, R.; Traina, M.; Vilar, R.; Warot, G.; Yajur, R.; Zopounidis, J-P.
Source
Subject
Language
Abstract
Dark Matter (DM) particles with sufficiently large cross sections may scatter as they travel through Earth's bulk. The corresponding changes in the DM flux give rise to a characteristic daily modulation signal in detectors sensitive to DM-electron interactions. Here, we report results obtained from the first underground operation of the DAMIC-M prototype detector searching for such a signal from DM with MeV-scale mass. A model-independent analysis finds no modulation in the rate of 1$e^-$ events with periods in the range 1-48 h. We then use these data to place exclusion limits on DM in the mass range [0.53, 2.7] MeV/c$^2$ interacting with electrons via a dark photon mediator. Taking advantage of the time-dependent signal we improve by $\sim$2 orders of magnitude on our previous limit obtained from the total rate of 1$e^-$ events, using the same data set. This daily modulation search represents the current strongest limit on DM-electron scattering via ultralight mediators for DM masses around 1 MeV/c$^2$.