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Title: Quantifying the evidence for dark matter in CoGeNT data

Abstract

We perform an independent analysis of data from the CoGeNT direct detection experiment to quantify the evidence for dark matter recoils. We critically re-examine the assumptions that enter the analysis, focusing specifically on the separation of bulk and surface events, the latter of which constitute a large background. This separation is performed using the event rise-time, with the surface events being slower on average. We fit the rise-time distributions for the bulk and surface events with a log-normal and Pareto distribution (which gives a better fit to the tail in the bulk population at high rise-times) and account for the energy-dependence of the bulk fraction using a cubic spline. Using Bayesian and frequentist techniques and additionally investigating the effect of varying the rise-time cut, the bulk background spectrum and bin-sizes, we conclude that the CoGeNT data show a preference for light dark matter recoils at less than 1σ.

Authors:
; ;  [1]
  1. Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE (United Kingdom)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22373412
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 2014; Journal Issue: 08; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 1475-7516
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
79 ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY; DATA ANALYSIS; DETECTION; ENERGY DEPENDENCE; NONLUMINOUS MATTER; RECOILS; SPECTRA

Citation Formats

Davis, Jonathan H., McCabe, Christopher, and Boehm, Céline. Quantifying the evidence for dark matter in CoGeNT data. United States: N. p., 2014. Web. doi:10.1088/1475-7516/2014/08/014.
Davis, Jonathan H., McCabe, Christopher, & Boehm, Céline. Quantifying the evidence for dark matter in CoGeNT data. United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/1475-7516/2014/08/014
Davis, Jonathan H., McCabe, Christopher, and Boehm, Céline. 2014. "Quantifying the evidence for dark matter in CoGeNT data". United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/1475-7516/2014/08/014.
@article{osti_22373412,
title = {Quantifying the evidence for dark matter in CoGeNT data},
author = {Davis, Jonathan H. and McCabe, Christopher and Boehm, Céline},
abstractNote = {We perform an independent analysis of data from the CoGeNT direct detection experiment to quantify the evidence for dark matter recoils. We critically re-examine the assumptions that enter the analysis, focusing specifically on the separation of bulk and surface events, the latter of which constitute a large background. This separation is performed using the event rise-time, with the surface events being slower on average. We fit the rise-time distributions for the bulk and surface events with a log-normal and Pareto distribution (which gives a better fit to the tail in the bulk population at high rise-times) and account for the energy-dependence of the bulk fraction using a cubic spline. Using Bayesian and frequentist techniques and additionally investigating the effect of varying the rise-time cut, the bulk background spectrum and bin-sizes, we conclude that the CoGeNT data show a preference for light dark matter recoils at less than 1σ.},
doi = {10.1088/1475-7516/2014/08/014},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22373412}, journal = {Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics},
issn = {1475-7516},
number = 08,
volume = 2014,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}