Search for Daily Modulation of MeV Dark Matter Signals with DAMIC-M

Journal Article · 06 March 2024 · Physical Review Letters

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.132.101006 · OSTI ID:2320298

Arnquist, I. ; Avalos, N. ; Baxter, D. ; Bertou, X. ; Castelló-Mor, N. ; Chavarria, A. E. ; Cuevas-Zepeda, J. ; Dastgheibi-Fard, A. ; De Dominicis, C. ; Deligny, O. ; Duarte-Campderros, J.; Estrada, E.; Gadola, N.; Gaïor, 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.

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 $1e^{-}$ events with sidereal period, where a DM signal would appear. We then use these data to place exclusion limits on DM in the mass range $[0.53,2.7]\mathrm{MeV}/c^2$ 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 $1e^{-}$ events, using the same dataset. This daily modulation search represents the current strongest limit on DM-electron scattering via ultralight mediators for DM masses around $1\mathrm{MeV}/c^2$ . Published by the American Physical Society 2024

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: AC02-05CH11231
• OSTI ID: 2320298
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 132; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Publisher: American Physical SocietyCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English