Probing Benchmark Models of Hidden-Sector Dark Matter with DAMIC-M
DAMIC-M Collaboration, :, K. Aggarwal, I. Arnquist, N. Avalos, X. Bertou, N. Castelló-Mor, A. E. Chavarria, J. Cuevas-Zepeda, A. Dastgheibi-Fard, C. De Dominicis, O. Deligny, J. Duarte-Campderros, E. Estrada, R. Gaïor, E. -L. Gkougkousis, T. Hossbach, L. Iddir, B. J. Kavanagh, B. Kilminster, A. Lantero-Barreda, I. Lawson, A. Letessier-Selvon, H. Lin, P. Loaiza, A. Lopez-Virto, R. Lou, K. J. McGuire, S. Munagavalasa, J. Noonan, D. Norcini, S. Paul, P. Privitera, P. Robmann, B. Roach, M. Settimo, R. Smida, M. Traina, R. Vilar, R. Yajur, D. Venegas-Vargas, C. Zhu, Y. Zhu
公開日: 2025/3/18
Abstract
We report on a search for sub-GeV dark matter (DM) particles interacting with electrons using the DAMIC-M prototype detector at the Modane Underground Laboratory. The data feature a significantly lower detector single $e^-$ rate (factor 50) compared to our previous search, while also accumulating a ten times larger exposure of $\sim$1.3 kg-day. DM interactions in the skipper charge-coupled devices (CCDs) are searched for as patterns of two or three consecutive pixels with a total charge between 2 and 4 $e^-$. We find 144 candidates of 2 $e^-$ and 1 candidate of 4 $e^-$, where 141.5 and 0.071, respectively, are expected from background. With no evidence of a DM signal, we place stringent constraints on DM particles with masses between 1 and 1000 MeV/$c^2$ interacting with electrons through an ultra-light or heavy mediator. For large ranges of DM masses below 1 GeV/c$^2$, we exclude theoretically-motivated benchmark scenarios where hidden-sector particles are produced as a major component of DM in the Universe through the freeze-in or freeze-out mechanisms.