Search for inelastic boosted dark matter with the ICARUS detector at the Gran Sasso Underground National Laboratory

Journal Article · 05 May 2025 · Physical Review. D.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.111.092003 · OSTI ID:2564774

Carranza, H.; Yu, J. ; Brown, B.; Blanchard, S.; Chakraborty, S.; Raut, R.; Kim, D.; Antonello, M.; Baibussinov, B.; Bellini, V.; Benetti, P.; Boffelli, F.; Bonesini, M.; Bubak, A.; Calligarich, E.; Centro, S.; Cesana, A.; Cieslik, K.; Cocco, A. G.; Dabrowska, A. ; Dermenev, A.; Falcone, A.; Farnese, C.; Fava, A.; Ferrari, A.; Gibin, D.; Gninenko, S.; Guglielmi, A.; Holeczek, J.; Janik, M.; Kirsanov, M.; Kisiel, J.; Kochanek, I.; Lagoda, J.; Menegolli, A.; Meng, G.; Montanari, C.; Otwinowski, S.; Petta, C.; Pietropaolo, F.; Rappoldi, A.; Raselli, G. L.; Rossella, M.; Rubbia, C.; Sala, P.; Scaramelli, A.; Sergiampietri, F.; Stefan, D.; Szarska, M.; Terrani, M.; Torti, M.; Tortorici, F.; Varanini, F.; Ventura, S.; Vignoli, C.; Wang, H.; Yang, X.; Zalewska, A.; Zani, A.; Zaremba, K.

We present the result of a search for inelastic boosted dark matter using the data corresponding to an exposure of $0.13\mathrm{kton}·\mathrm{year}$ , collected by the ICARUS T-600 detector during its 2012–2013 operational period at the INFN Gran Sasso Underground National Laboratory. The benchmark boosted dark matter model features a multiparticle dark sector with a ${\mathrm{U}\left(1\right)}^{\prime }$ gauge boson, the dark photon. The kinetic mixing of the dark photon with the Standard Model photon allows for a portal between the dark sector and the visible sector. The inelastic boosted dark matter interaction occurs when a dark matter particle inelastically scatters with an electron in the ICARUS detector, producing an outgoing, heavier dark sector state which subsequently decays back down to the dark matter particle, emitting a dark photon. The dark photon subsequently couples to a Standard Model photon through kinetic mixing. The Standard Model photon then converts to an electron-positron pair in the detector. This interaction process provides a distinct experimental signature that consists of a recoil electron from the primary interaction and an associated electron-positron pair from the secondary vertex. After analyzing 4,134 triggered events, the search results in zero observed events. Exclusion limits are set in the dark photon mass and coupling ( $m_X,\epsilon$ ) parameter space for several selected optimal boosted dark matter mass sets and cover previously unexplored parameter space. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

• Research Organization: CERN; Catania U.; Cracow, INP; Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States); GSSI, Aquila; Gran Sasso; Hamburg U., Inst. Theor. Phys. II; INFN, Catania; INFN, Milan; INFN, Milan Bicocca; INFN, Padua; INFN, Pavia; KIT, Karlsruhe; KIT, Karlsruhe, SCC; Milan Bicocca U.; Milan U.; Moscow, INR; Munich, Max Planck Inst.; NCBJ, Swierk; OATo, Turin; Padua U.; Pavia U.; Silesia U.; South Dakota U.; Texas U., Arlington; UCLA; Warsaw U. of Tech. (main)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Department of Energy; USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: 89243024CSC000002; SC0011686
• OSTI ID: 2564774
• Report Number(s): FERMILAB-PUB-24-0873; 092003
• Journal Information: Physical Review. D., Journal Name: Physical Review. D. Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 111; ISSN PRVDAQ; ISSN 2470-0010
• Publisher: American Physical SocietyCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English