Measuring the molecular Migdal effect with neutron scattering on diatomic gases

Journal Article · 18 November 2024 · Physical Review. D.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.110.092012 · OSTI ID:2478036

Kahn, Yonatan ; Pérez-Ríos, Jesús

The Migdal effect is a key inelastic signal channel which could be used to detect low-mass dark matter, but it has never been observed experimentally using Standard Model probes. Here we propose a conceptual design for an experiment which could detect the Migdal effect in diatomic molecules through low-energy neutron scattering, and we provide the requirements on the beam spectrum and reducible backgrounds such that a detection may be achieved. The enhancement of the Migdal rate through non-adiabatic couplings, which are absent in isolated atoms, combined with the distinctive photon energies of electronic transitions in CO, suggest that a positive detection of the molecular Migdal effect may be possible with modest beam times at existing neutron facilities. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0015655
• OSTI ID: 2478036
• Journal Information: Physical Review. D., Journal Name: Physical Review. D. Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 110; ISSN PRVDAQ; ISSN 2470-0010
• Publisher: American Physical SocietyCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English