SciPost: SciPost Physics Proceedings: issue detail

SciPost Physics Proceedings issue 12

14th International Conference on Identification of Dark Matter (IDM2022)

Event dates: from 2022-07-18 to 2022-07-22.

The 14th conference on the identification of dark matter (IDM2022, https://idm2022.hephy.at) is organized by the Institute of high energy physics (HEPHY) in the beautiful city Vienna. The conference will take place from 18-22nd of July 2022 at the Technical University Vienna which is located in the very centre of city in close walking distance to Vienna’s main attractions like Karlsplatz, Stephansdom, Naschmarkt etc.

The aim of IDM is to draw a complete picture on the current knowledge of dark matter from cosmologic scale down to particle physics, from accelerator searches to recent results in indirect and direct detection and to give a glance on future prospects and technological advancements on the endeavor to identify dark matter.

The following topics will be discussed:

Direct and indirect detection of dark matter
Axions and ALPs
Sterile neutrinos
Searches for dark matter at accelerators
Dark matter simulations
Cosmological evidence for dark matter
Underground laboratories
Background in dark matter searches

Length limitations: Proceedings for plenary talks are foreseen to have a page limit of 6 pages, parallel session talks and posters of 4 pages. The page limit does not include author list and references.

(Guest) Fellows responsible for this Issue

Dr Valentyna Mokina

Even lighter particle dark matter

Alvaro E. Chavarria

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 001 (2023) · published 3 July 2023 | · pdf

We report on recent progress in the search for dark matter particles with masses from 1 Mev to 1 Gev . Several dark matter candidates in this mass range are expected to generate measurable electronic-recoil signals in direct-detection experiments. We focus on dark matter particles scattering with electrons in semiconductor detectors since they have fundamentally the highest sensitivity due to their low ionization threshold. Charge-coupled device (CCD) silicon detectors are the leading technology, with significant progress expected in the coming years. We present the status of the CCD program and briefly report on other efforts.
Directional dark matter searches

Elisabetta Baracchini

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 002 (2023) · published 3 July 2023 | · pdf

The importance of directly detect and experimentally probe the nature of Dark Matter (DM) is universally and incontrovertibly recognised as one of the most compelling tasks of today's fundamental physics. Directional DM searches aim at developing experimental techniques that can give access to the measurement of the incoming direction of the DM particle. This can provide a correlation with an astrophysical source that no background whatsoever can mimic and offers an unique key for a positive, unambiguous identification of a DM signal.
Dark matter bound states: A window into the early universe

Juri Smirnov

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 003 (2023) · published 3 July 2023 | · pdf

Despite significant experimental sensitivity to point-like, weakly interacting particles at the electroweak mass scale, dark matter has not been found yet. This could hint at a more complex dark sector with multiple states or composite dark particles, much like the complexity of the standard model. Currently, our experimental sensitivity to such scenarios is limited by a lack of theoretical understanding. The investigation of Dark Matter systems with unstable or stable bound states provides a playground that leads to the development of important tools needed for the understanding of dark sectors with complex phenomena and allows to experimentally test well-motivated DM scenarios.
Annual modulation of dark matter signals: Experimental results and new ideas

Felix Kahlhoefer

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 004 (2023) · published 3 July 2023 | · pdf

Direct detection experiments searching for the scattering of dark matter particles off nuclei expect an annual modulation in their event rate. In this presentation, I will review the theoretical predictions and the experimental status of the search for annual modulations, with a focus on ongoing and planned experiments using NaI detectors. In particular, I will discuss the interpretation of the DAMA signal and related model-building efforts.
Axions in the early universe

Francesco D'Eramo

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 005 (2023) · published 3 July 2023 | · pdf

The Peccei-Quinn solution to the strong CP problem provides a motivated framework rich in cosmological consequence. Thermal axion production is unavoidable if there is a thermal bath at early times. Scattering and decay processes of bath particles can dump relativistic axions in the primordial plasma, and they can leave observable signatures in cosmological observables probing both the early and the late universe if produced with a significant abundance. We present recent and significant improvements for the calculation of the axion production rate for different scenarios and apply these results to predict the abundance of produced axions. Finally, we provide updated cosmological bounds on the QCD axion mass.
The status of the galactic center gamma-ray excess

Dan Hooper

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 006 (2023) · published 3 July 2023 | · pdf

The Galactic Center Gamma-Ray Excess has a spectrum, angular distribution, and overall intensity that agree remarkably well with that expected from annihilating dark matter particles in the form of a $m_X \sim$ 50 GeV thermal relic. Previous claims that these photons are clustered on small angular scales or trace the distribution of known stellar populations once appeared to favor interpretations in which this signal originates from a large population of unresolved millisecond pulsars. More recent work, however, has overturned these conclusions, finding that the observed gamma-ray excess does not contain discernible small scale power, and is distributed with approximate spherical symmetry, not tracing any known stellar populations. In light of these results, it now appears significantly more likely that the Galactic Center Gamma-Ray Excess is produced by annihilating dark matter.
Underground laboratories

Aldo Ianni

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 007 (2023) · published 3 July 2023 | · pdf

A brief review on underground laboratories at the time of IDM 2022 is reported. General characteristics of these research infrastructures are discussed and a few highlights from different laboratories are reported. The idea of networking between underground laboratories is discussed.
Ionization efficiency at sub-keV energies for crystals and noble liquids

Youssef Sarkis, Alexis A. Aguilar-Arevalo, Juan Carlos D'Olivo

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 008 (2023) · published 3 July 2023 | · pdf

We study the ionization and light yields produced by nuclear recoils at low energies in pure crystals and noble liquids in the context of Lindhard's integral equation, incorporating the effects of binding energy, improved modeling of the electronic stopping, and electronic straggling. We consider three different models for the electronic stopping power that incorporate Coulomb repulsion effects at low energies, and Bohr electronic stripping for high energies. Finally, we discuss possible new effects near threshold.
Dark matter searches and energy accumulation and release in materials

Sergey Pereverzev

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 009 (2023) · published 3 July 2023 | · pdf

Efforts to identify dark matter by detecting nuclear recoils produced by dark matter particles reveal low-energy backgrounds of unknown origin in different types of detectors. In many cases, energy accumulation and delayed burst-like releases of stored energy could provide an explanation. These dynamics follow Prigogine's ideas on systems with energy flow and the general Self-Organized Criticality scenario. We compare these models with properties of excess backgrounds in cryogenic solid-state detectors, relaxation processes in glasses and crystals, our observations of delayed luminescence in NaI(Tl), and make predictions for more phenomena present in these systems and in superconducting photon detectors and qubits. Experiments to create accurate phenomenological models are needed.
Energy loss due to defect creation in solid state detectors

Matti Heikinheimo, Sebastian Sassi, Kimmo Tuominen, Kai Nordlund, Nader Mirabolfathi

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 010 (2023) · published 3 July 2023 | · pdf

The threshold displacement energy in solid state detector materials varies from several eV to $\lesssim$ 100 eV. If a stable or long lived defect is created as a result of a nuclear recoil event, some part of the recoil energy is stored in the deformed lattice and is therefore not observable in a phonon detector. Thus, an accurate model of this effect is necessary for precise calibration of the recoil energy measurement in low threshold phonon detectors. Furthermore, the sharpness of the defect creation threshold varies between materials. For a hard material such as diamond, the sharp threshold will cause a sudden onset of the energy loss effect, resulting in a prominent peak in the observed recoil spectrum just below the threshold displacement energy. We describe how this effect can be used to discriminate between nuclear and electron recoils using just the measured recoil spectrum.
The low-energy spectrum in DAMIC at SNOLAB

Alvaro E. Chavarria

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 011 (2023) · published 3 July 2023 | · pdf

The DAMIC experiment employs large-area, thick charge-coupled devices (CCDs) to search for the interactions of low-mass dark matter particles in the galactic halo with silicon atoms in the CCD target. From 2017 to 2019, DAMIC collected data with a seven-CCD array (40-gram target) installed in the SNOLAB underground laboratory. We report dark-matter search results, including a conspicuous excess of events above the background model below 200$V_{ee}$, whose origin remains unknown. We present details of the published spectral analysis, and update on the deployment of skipper CCDs to perform a more precise measurement by early 2023.
Sub-GeV dark matter searches with EDELWEISS: New results and prospects

Hugues Lattaud on behalf of the EDELWEISS collaboration

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 012 (2023) · published 3 July 2023 | · pdf

The Edelweiss collaboration performs light Dark Matter (DM) particles searches with germanium bolometer collecting charge and phonon signals. Thanks to the Neganov-Trofimov-Luke (NTL) effect, a RMS resolution of 4.46 electron-hole pairs was obtained on a massive (200g) germanium detector instrumented with a NbSi Transition Edge Sensor (TES) operated underground at the Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane (LSM). This sensitivity made possible a search for WIMP using the Migdal effect down to 32 MeV/C$^{2}$ and exclude cross-sections down to 10$^{-29}$ cm$^2$. It is the first measurement in cryogenic germanium with such thermal sensor, proving the high relevance of this technology. Furthermore, such TES have shown sensitivity to out-of-equilibrium phonons, paving the way for EDELWEISS new experience CRYOSEL. This is an important step in the development of Ge detectors with improved performance in the context of the EDELWEISS-SubGeV program.
Latest observations on the low energy excess in CRESST-III

G. Angloher, S. Banik, G. Benato, A. Bento, A. Bertolini, R. Breier, C. Bucci, L. Canonica, A. D'Addabbo, S. Di Lorenzo, L. Einfalt, A. Erb, F. von Feilitzsch, N. Ferreiro Iachellini, S. Fichtinger, D. Fuchs, A. Fuss, A. Garai, V. M. Ghete, S. Gerster, P. Gorla, P. V. Guillaumon, S. Gupta, D. Hauff, M. Ješkovský, J. Jochum, M. Kaznacheeva, A. Kinast, H. Kluck, H. Kraus, A. Langenkämper, M. Mancuso, L. Marini, L. Meyer, V. Mokina, A. Nilima, M. Olmi, T. Ortmann, C. Pagliarone, L. Pattavina, F. Petricca, W. Potzel, P. Povinec, F. Pröbst, F. Pucci, F. Reindl, J. Rothe, K. Schäffner, J. Schieck, D. Schmiedmayer, S. Schönert, C. Schwertner, M. Stahlberg, L. Stodolsky, C. Strandhagen, R. Strauss, I. Usherov, F. Wagner, M. Willers, V. Zema

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 013 (2023) · published 3 July 2023 | · pdf

The CRESST experiment observes an unexplained excess of events at low energies. In the current CRESST-III data-taking campaign we are operating detector modules with different designs to narrow down the possible explanations. In this work, we show first observations of the ongoing measurement, focusing on the comparison of time, energy and temperature dependence of the excess in several detectors. These exclude dark matter, radioactive backgrounds and intrinsic sources related to the crystal bulk as a major contribution.
The DAMIC-M experiment: Status and first results

Isaac J. Arnquist, Nicolas Avalos, Philippe Bailly, David Baxter, Xavier Bertou, Mircea Bogdan, Christian Bourgeois, J. Brandt, Arnaud Cadiou, Nuria Castelló-Mor, Alvaro E. Chavarria, Marcel Conde, Nicholas J. Corso, J. C. Gutiérrez, Julian Cuevas-Zepeda, Ali Dastgheibi-Fard, Claudia De Dominicis, Olivier Deligny, R. Desani, Marc Dhellot, Jean-Jacques Dormard, Jordi Duarte-Campderros, E. Estrada, D. Florin, N. Gadola, R. Gaïor, J. González Sánchez, Todd W. Hossbach, Michael Huehn, Latifa Khalil, Ben Kilminster, Agustin Lantero-Barreda, Ian Lawson, Hervé Lebbolo, Steven Lee, Pascal Leray, Antoine Letessier-Selvon, Pia Loaiza, Amparo Lopez-Virto, David Martin, Ariel Matalon, Kellie McGuire, T. Milleto, Pitam Mitra, David M. Martin, S. Munagavalasa, Danielle Norcini, Cory T. Overman, Giorgos Papadopoulos, S. Paul, David Peterson, Alexander Piers, Olivier Pochon, Paolo Privitera, Karthik Ramanathan, Denis Reynet, Peter Robmann, Ryan Roehnelt, Mariangela Settimo, Radomir Smida, Ben Stillwell, Ryan Thomas, Michelangelo Traina, Philippe Vallerand, Tim Van Wechel, Ivan Vila, Rocio V. Cortabitarte, Achim Vollhardt, Guillaume Warot, D. Wolf, Rachana Yajur, J-P. Zopounidis

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 014 (2023) · published 3 July 2023 | · pdf

The DAMIC-M (DArk Matter In CCDs at Modane) experiment employs thick, fully depleted silicon charged-coupled devices (CCDs) to search for dark matter particles with a target exposure of 1 kg-year. A novel skipper readout implemented in the CCDs provides single electron resolution through multiple non-destructive measurements of the individual pixel charge, pushing the detection threshold to the eV-scale. DAMIC-M will advance by several orders of magnitude the exploration of the dark matter particle hypothesis, in particular of candidates pertaining to the so-called "hidden sector." A prototype, the Low Background Chamber (LBC), with 20g of low background Skipper CCDs, has been recently installed at Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane and is currently taking data. We will report the status of the DAMIC-M experiment and first results obtained with LBC commissioning data.
Measurement of low-energy Compton and neutron scattering in Si CCDs for dark matter searches

Radomir Smida for the DAMIC-M Collaboration

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 015 (2023) · published 3 July 2023 | · pdf

For optimal sensitivity to low-mass dark matter candidates experiments like DAMIC-M employ skipper charged-coupled devices (CCDs) with detection threshold of just a few ionization charges. Ionization signals from small-angle Compton scatters of environmental $\gamma$-rays, an important component of the background in dark matter searches, must thus be characterized down to $O$(10 eV) energy. Using a $^{241}$Am $\gamma$-ray source, we report a precise measurement of scattering on Si atomic shell electrons in a skipper CCD with single-electron resolution. Notable differences are observed between data and theoretical expectations in the L-shell energy region ($<$150 eV). We also present preliminary data from a skipper CCD exposed to low-energy neutrons ($<$24 keV) from a $^{124}$Sb$^9$Be photoneutron source, demonstrating a measurement of the nuclear recoil ionization efficiency in Si down to few ionization charges.
DELight: A Direct search Experiment for Light dark matter with superfluid helium

Belina von Krosigk, Klaus Eitel, Christian Enss, Torben Ferber, Loredana Gastaldo, Felix Kahlhoefer, Sebastian Kempf, Markus Klute, Sebastian Lindemann, Marc Schumann, Francesco Toschi, Kathrin Valerius

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 016 (2023) · published 3 July 2023 | · pdf

To reach ultra-low detection thresholds necessary to probe unprecedentedly low Dark Matter masses, target material alternatives and novel detector designs are essential. One such target material is superfluid $^4$He which has the potential to probe so far uncharted light Dark Matter parameter space at sub-GeV masses. The new "Direct search Experiment for Light dark matter", DELight, will be using superfluid helium as active target, instrumented with magnetic micro-calorimeters. It is being designed to reach sensitivity to masses well below 100 MeV in Dark Matter-nucleus scattering interactions.
Reduction in radioactivity-induced backgrounds using a novel active veto detector for rare event search experiments

Mouli Chaudhuri, Andrew Jastram, Glenn Agnolet, Samir Banik, Hao Chen, Vijay Iyer, Varchaswi K. S. Kashyap, Andrew Kubik, Matthew Lee, Rupak Mahapatra, Sandro Maludze, Nader Mirabolfathi, Nityasa Mishra, Bedangadas Mohanty, Himangshu Neog, Mark Platt

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 017 (2023) · published 3 July 2023 | · pdf

The results of a newly developed annular cryogenic phonon-mediated active veto detector are discussed which shows a significant reduction of radioactivity-induced backgrounds in rare event search experiments. The veto detector is made up of germanium weighing $\sim$500 g with an outer diameter of 76 mm and an inner diameter of 28 mm. The detector can host a 25 mm diameter germanium inner target detector of mass $\sim$10 g. A GEANT4 simulation with the active veto and inner target detector shows a gamma background reduction of 50 - 80% which is further improved (> 90%) with 4$\pi$ veto coverage. Experimental measurements with the detector assembly agree well with the simulation.
Neutron production in ($\alpha$,n) reactions in SOURCES4

Vitaly A. Kudryavtsev, Piotr Krawczun, Rayna Bocheva

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 018 (2023) · published 3 July 2023 | · pdf

Neutrons produced in spontaneous fission and ($\alpha,n$) reactions can induce background events in underground experiments looking for rare processes. A number of computer codes are available to calculate cross-sections of ($\alpha,n$) reactions, branching ratios to various states and neutron yields. SOURCES4 code has been used in this work to calculate neutron yields and energy spectra with input cross-sections and branching ratios taken from experimental data and models from EMPIRE2.19/3.2.3 and TALYS1.9 codes. A comparison of SOURCES4 calculations with experimental data from alpha beams and radioactive decay chains is presented.
The CYGNO/INITIUM experiment

F. D. Amaro, E. Baracchini, L. Benussi , S. Bianco, C. Capoccia, M. Caponero, D. Santos Cardoso, G. Cavoto, A. Cortez, I. A. Costa, E. Dané, G. Dho, F. Di Giambattista, E. Di Marco, G. D’Imperio, F. Iacoangeli, H. P. L. Jùnior, G. S. P. Lopes, G. Maccarrone, R. D. P. Mano, R. R. M. Gregorio, D. J. G. Marques, G. Mazzitelli, A. G. McLean, A. Messina, C. M. B. Monteiro, R. A. Nobrega, I. Fonseca Pains, E. Paoletti, L. Passamonti, S. Pelosi, F. Petrucci, S. Piacentini, D. Piccolo, D. Pierluigi, D. Pinci, A. Prajapati, F. Renga, R. J. C. Roque, F. Rosatelli, A. Russo, J. M. F. dos Santos, G. Saviano, N. J. C. Spooner, R. Tesauro, S. Tommasini, S. Torelli

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 019 (2023) · published 3 July 2023 | · pdf

The CYGNO project for the development of a high precision optical readout gaseous TPC for directional Dark Matter search and solar neutrino spectroscopy will be presented. It is to be hosted at Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso. CYGNO peculiar features are the use of sCMOS cameras and PMTs coupled to GEMs amplification of a helium-based gas mixture at atmospheric pressure, in order to achieve 3D tracking with head tail capability and background rejection down to O(keV) energy, to boost sensitivity to low WIMP masses. The latest R&D results within the CYGNO project will be discussed along with the underground installation and operation of a 50 l prototype, soon to be followed by a O(1) m3 experiment demonstrator in 2024-2026. The latest results on the negative ion drift operation at atmospheric pressure within CYGNO optical readout approach will be illustrated, which is the aim of the ERC Consolidator Grant project INITIUM.
Anisotropic ionization threshold and directional sensitivity in solid state DM detectors

Matti Heikinheimo, Sebastian Sassi, Kimmo Tuominen, Kai Nordlund, Nader Mirabolfathi

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 020 (2023) · published 3 July 2023 | · pdf

The threshold displacement energy for nuclear recoils depends strongly on the direction of the recoiling nucleus with respect to the crystal lattice. Assuming that similar dependence holds for the ionization threshold for low energy nuclear recoils, we explore the consequences of the resulting directional dependence of the observable event rate in ionization detectors. For low mass dark matter, this effect leads to a daily modulation in the event rate. We discuss how this effect can be utilized to separate the DM signal from the solar neutrino background and how the structure of the modulation signal can be used to identify the type of the DM-nucleon coupling.
Dark matter directionality approach using ZnWO$_4$ crystal scintillators

Vincenzo Caracciolo, Volodymyr Yakovych Degoda, Pierluigi Belli, Rita Bernabei, Y. A. Borovlev, Fabio Cappella, Riccardo Cerulli, Fedor A. Danevich, Antonella Incicchitti, Alice Leoncini, Vittorio Merlo, N. Cherubini, Dmytro V. Kasperovych, Y. P. Kogut, G. P. Podust, Oksana G. Polischuk, A. G. Postupaeva, V. N. Shlegel, Volodymyr I. Tretyak

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 021 (2023) · published 3 July 2023 | · pdf

The development of low-background anisotropic detectors can offer a unique way to study those Dark Matter (DM) candidate particles able to induce nuclear recoils through the directionality technique. Among the anisotropic scintillators, the ZnWO$_{4}$ has unique features and is an excellent candidate for the purposes. Both the light output and the scintillation pulse shape depend on the impinging direction of heavy particles with respect to the crystallographic axes and can supply two independent modes to study the directionality and discriminate $\gamma/\beta$ radiation. Measurements to study the anisotropic and scintillation performances of ZnWO$_4$ are reported.
Search for low mass WIMP dark matter with DarkSide-50

Masato Kimura on behalf of DarkSide-50 Collaboration

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 022 (2023) · published 3 July 2023 | · pdf

DarkSide-50 is a direct dark matter detection experiment at Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso that uses argon as the target material. Exploiting the ionization signal from a dual-phase time projection chamber filled with low-radioactivity argon, it has set the most stringent exclusion limit on WIMPs with a mass of few $\mathrm{GeV}/c^2$. A new analysis has recently been carried out with a larger exposure, profiting from an improved understanding of the detector response and background model. An improvement of about a factor 10 in sensitivity is expected for a WIMP mass of 2 GeV/c$^2$.
The Scintillating Bubble Chamber Experiment

Ben Broerman

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 023 (2023) · published 3 July 2023 | · pdf

The Scintillating Bubble Chamber (SBC) collaboration is combining the well-established liquid argon and bubble chamber technologies to search for low-mass, GeV-scale dark matter. Liquid-noble bubble chambers benefit from the excellent electron-recoil insensitivity inherent in bubble chambers with the addition of energy reconstruction provided from the scintillation signal for background rejection. The projected sensitivity with a quasi-background-free 10-kg-year exposure at a 100 eV nuclear recoil threshold is approximately 10$^{-43}$ cm$^2$ for a 1 GeV/c$^2$ dark matter mass.
Status and future prospects of the NEWS-G experiment

P. Knights on behalf of the NEWS-G Collaboration

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 024 (2023) · published 3 July 2023 | · pdf

The NEWS-G collaboration is searching for light dark matter using spherical proportional counters. Access to the mass range from 50 MeV to 10 GeV is enabled by the combination of low energy threshold, light gaseous targets (H, He, Ne), and highly radio-pure detector construction. Several of the recent developments that have paved the way for the operation of a new 140 cm in diameter, spherical proportional counter are presented. Constructed and commissioned at LSM using 4N copper with a 500$\mu$xm electroplated inner layer, the detector is now installed in SNOLAB, where it has begun data taking. Building on the electroplating of the current detector, the collaboration construct its next detector directly in the underground laboratory, using ultra-pure copper electroforming. The design and construction of ECUME, a 140 cm in diameter spherical proportional counter fully electroformed underground is discussed, along with the potential to achieve sensitivity reaching the neutrino floor in light Dark Matter searches with a next-generation detector.
Dark Matter: DAMA/LIBRA and its perspectives

R. Bernabei, P. Belli, F. Cappella, V. Caracciolo, R. Cerulli, C.J. Dai, A. d'Angelo, A. Incicchitti, A. Leoncini, X.H. Ma, V. Merlo, F. Montecchia, X.D. Sheng, Z.P. Ye

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 025 (2023) · published 3 July 2023 | · pdf

The long-standing model-independent annual modulation effect measured by DAMA deep underground at Gran Sasso Laboratory with different experimental configurations is summarized and perspectives will be highlighted. DAMA/LIBRA-phase2 set-up, $\simeq$ 250 kg highly radio-pure NaI(Tl) confirms the evidence of a signal that meets all the requirements of the model independent Dark Matter annual modulation signature at high C.L.; the full exposure is 2.86 ton $\times$ yr over 22 annual cycles. The experiment is currently collecting data in the DAMA/LIBRA-phase2 empowered configuration with an even lower software energy threshold. Other recent claims are shortly commented.
Status and prospects of SABRE North

Ambra Mariani on behalf of the SABRE North Collaboration

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 026 (2023) · published 4 July 2023 | · pdf

We present the characterization of a low background NaI(Tl) crystal for the SABRE North experiment. The crystal NaI-33, was studied in two different setups at Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso, Italy. The Proof-of-Principle (PoP) detector was equipped with a liquid scintillator veto and collected data for about one month (90 kg$\times$days). The PoP-dry setup consisted of NaI-33 in a purely passive shielding and collected data for almost one year (891 kg$\times$days). The average background in the energy region of interest (1-6 keV) for dark matter search was 1.20 $\pm$ 0.05 and 1.39 $\pm$ 0.02 counts/day/kg/keV within the PoP and the PoP-dry setup, respectively. This result opens to a new shielding design for the physics phase of the SABRE North detector, that does not foresee the use of an organic liquid scintillator external veto, in compliance with the new safety and environmental requirements of Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso.
Hidden dependencies in model independent tests of DAMA

Madeleine J. Zurowski

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 027 (2023) · published 4 July 2023 | · pdf

For nearly two decades the DAMA Collaboration has been observing a modulating signal compatible with that expected from a dark matter presence in our galaxy. However, interpretations of this with the standard assumptions for dark matter particles are strongly ruled out by a large number of other experiments. This tension can be relaxed somewhat by making more tailored choices for the dark matter model and properties of interest, but expanding the models of interest in such a way makes it impossible to test the DAMA modulation conclusively. In order to understand the exact nature of this signal, we need to use a detector based on the same target (NaI(Tl)), which would be sensitive to exactly the same particle interaction models as DAMA. There are a number of such experiments in the data taking or commissioning stages designed to do just this, two of which (ANAIS and COSINE) recently released their results after 3 years of data taking. Interestingly, the modulation observed by the two experiments deviate from each other by 2$\sigma$, while being within 3$\sigma$ of the DAMA result. This paper addresses potential differences between NaI(Tl) based detectors that could lead to the differing results to date, with a particular focus on the quenching factor
Quenching Factor estimation of Na recoils in NaI(Tl) crystals using a low-energy pulsed neutron beam measurement

Mukund Raghunath Bharadwaj, G. Angloher, P. S. Barbeau, I. Dafinei, N. Di Marco, L. Einfalt, F. Ferroni, S. Fichtinger, A. Filipponi , T. Frank , M. Friedl , A. Fuss, Z. Ge , S. Hedges, M. Heikinheimo, K. Huitu, M. Kellermann, R. Maji, M. Mancuso, L. Pagnanini, F. Petricca, S. Pirro, F. Pröbst , G. Profeta, A. Puiu, F. Reindl , K. Schäffner, J. Schieck, D. Schmiedmayer , C. Schwertner , M. Stahlberg , A. Stendahl, M. Stukel , F. Wagner, S. Yue, V. Zema, Y. Zhu

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 028 (2023) · published 4 July 2023 | · pdf

NaI(Tl) based scintillation detectors have become a staple in the field of direct dark matter searches, with the DAMA-LIBRA experiment being the standout for its reported observation of an annually modulating WIMP-like signal which is in direct contrast with other results. In order to accurately calibrate the energies of WIMP-induced nuclear recoil signals, precise measurements of the quenching factor of the NaI crystals are essential for each of these experiments, as it is well established that electron recoils and nuclear recoils have dissimilar scintillation light yields. In this contribution, we present first preliminary results of an ongoing systematic study that has been carried out by the COSINUS collaboration and Duke University to measure the quenching factor of Na recoils. Five ultra-pure NaI crystals, manufactured by the Shanghai Institute for Ceramics, each of which have varying Tl dopant concentrations, were irradiated with a mono-energetic neutron beam at the Triangle Universities National Laboratory, North Carolina, USA to extract the quenching factor values in the low recoil energies of 1-30keV$_{nr}$.
Direct searches of dark matter with the SABRE South experiment

Madeleine J. Zurowski on behalf of the SABRE South Collaboration

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 029 (2023) · published 4 July 2023 | · pdf

The SABRE (Sodium-iodide with Active Background REjection) South experiment is a direct dark matter detector, made of radio-pure NaI(Tl) crystals surrounded by a liquid scintillator veto. The achievement of ultra-low background rate is essential to provide a model independent test of the signal observed by the DAMA/LIBRA experiment whose claim has not been verified yet. The SABRE South experiment will be located at the Stawell Underground Physics Laboratory (SUPL), Australia, the first deep underground laboratory in the Southern Hemisphere. The laboratory will not only house rare event physics searches but also measurement facilities to support low background physics experiments and applications like radiobiology and quantum computing. The SABRE South detector commissioning is expected to occur in 2023. This paper details the setup and projections for the experiment, and a brief description of the underground laboratory.
Analysis of radiation damage in silicon charge-coupled devices used for dark matter searches

Steven J. Lee

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 030 (2023) · published 4 July 2023 | · pdf

Nuclear recoils in crystal detectors generate radiation damage in the form of crystal defects that can be measured in scientific-grade CCDs as local hot spots of leakage current stimulated by temperature increases in the devices. In this proceeding, we use a neutron source to generate defects in DAMIC-M CCDs, and using increases in leakage current at different temperatures, we demonstrate a procedure for identifying crystal defects in the CCDs of the DAMIC-M experiment. This is the first time that individual defects generated from nuclear recoils have been studied. This technique could be used to distinguish nuclear recoils from electron recoils in some energy ranges, which would improve the ability of CCD detectors to search for weakly interacting dark matter.
Characterisation of low background CaWO$_4$ crystals for CRESST-III

A. Kinast, G. Angloher, S. Banik, G. Benato, A. Bento, A. Bertolini, R. Breier, C. Bucci, J. Burkhart, L. Canonica, A. D'Addabbo, S. Di Lorenzo, L. Einfalt, A. Erb, F. v. Feilitzsch, N. Ferreiro Iachellini, S. Fichtinger, D. Fuchs, A. Fuss, A. Garai, V.M. Ghete, S. Gerster, P. Gorla, P.V. Guillaumon, S. Gupta, D. Hauff, M. Ješkovský, J. Jochum, M. Kaznacheeva, H. Kluck, H. Kraus, A. Langenkämper, M. Mancuso, L. Marini, L. Meyer, V. Mokina, A. Nilima, M. Olmi, T. Ortmann, C. Pagliarone, L. Pattavina, F. Petricca, W. Potzel, P. Povinec, F. Pröbst, F. Pucci, F. Reindl, J. Rothe, K. Schäffner, J. Schieck, D. Schmiedmayer, S. Schönert, C. Schwertner, M. Stahlberg, L. Stodolsky, C. Strandhagen, R. Strauss, I. Usherov, F. Wagner, M. Willers, V. Zema (CRESST Collaboration)

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 031 (2023) · published 4 July 2023 | · pdf

The CRESST-III experiment aims at the direct detection of dark matter particles via their elastic scattering off nuclei in a scintillating CaWO$_4$ target crystal. For many years CaWO$_4$ crystals have successfully been produced in-house at Technische Universität München with a focus on high radiopurity. To further improve the CaWO$_4$ crystals, an extensive chemical purification of the raw materials has been performed and the crystal TUM93 was produced from this powder. We present results from an $\alpha$-decay rate analysis performed on 344 days of data collected in the ongoing CRESST-III data-taking campaign. The $\alpha$-decay rate could significantly be reduced.
Background suppression in the COSINUS experiment: Active muon veto and radiopure materials selection

M. Stukel, G. Angloher, Mukund Raghunath Bharadwaj, I. Dafinei , N. Di Marco, L. Einfalt, F. Ferroni, S. Fichtinger, A. Filipponi, T. Frank, M. Friedl, A. Fuss , Z. Ge, M. Heikinheimo, K. Huitu, M. Kellermann, R. Maji, M. Mancuso, L. Pagnanini, F. Petricca, S. Pirro, F. Pröbst, G. Profeta, A. Puiu, F. Reindl, K. Schäffner, J. Schieck, D. Schmiedmayer, C. Schwertner, M. Stahlberg, A. Stendahl, F. Wagner, S. Yue, V. Zema, Y. Zhu

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 032 (2023) · published 4 July 2023 | · pdf

For over twenty-five years the DAMA/LIBRA experiment has reported an annual modulation signal that is consistent with a dark matter explanation. This signal is, currently, in tension with the null results observed by other searches that utilize different target detectors. The COSINUS experiment will perform a model-independent cross-check of the DAMA/LIBRA result by using the same target material, NaI crystals, operated as scintillating calorimeters. By measuring both temperature and light the NaI crystals in COSINUS will be able to distinguish between electron and nuclear recoils on an event-by-event basis. However, background events induced by cosmic-rays, environmental radioactivity or the intrinsic contamination of the materials used in the crystal, shielding and infrastructure can pose an issue to any analysis and must be fully understood. We report on the status of the development of the simulation for an active water Cherenkov muon veto, as well as the results of the beginning radiogenic material screening.
remoTES: A new design for the cryogenic NaI detectors of the COSINUS experiment

L. Einfalt, G. Angloher, Mukund Raghunath Bharadwaj, I. Dafinei, N. Di Marco, F. Ferroni, S. Fichtinger, A. Filipponi, T. Frank, M. Friedl, A. Fuss, Z. Ge, M. Heikinheimo, K. Huitu, M. Kellermann, R. Maji , M. Mancuso, L. Pagnanini, F. Petricca, S. Pirro, F. Pröbst, G. Profeta, A. Puiu, F. Reindl, K. Schäffner, J. Schieck, D. Schmiedmayer, C. Schwertner, M. Stahlberg, A. Stendahl, M. Stukel , F. Wagner, S. Yue, V. Zema, Y. Zhu

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 033 (2023) · published 4 July 2023 | · pdf

The increasing statistical significance of the DAMA/LIBRA annual modulation signal is a cause for tension in the field of dark matter direct detection. The COSINUS experiment aims at a model-independent cross-check of the DAMA/LIBRA signal claim, using NaI crystals operated as cryogenic scintillating calorimeters at millikelvin temperatures. Such a setup enables measurement of phonon and scintillation light signals via Transition Edge Sensors (TESs) and allows particle discrimination on an event-by-event basis. The non-standard properties of NaI cause an obstacle when attaching a TES directly onto the surface of the crystal. This can be overcome with the ``remoTES'' design, where the TES is attached to an external wafer crystal. We present the results from a first successful operation of NaI and other crystals as cryogenic calorimeters with the remoTES design.
Dark matter or millisecond pulsars? A deep learning-based analysis of the Fermi Galactic Centre Excess

Florian List, Nicholas L. Rodd, Geraint F. Lewis

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 034 (2023) · published 4 July 2023 | · pdf

The $\gamma$-ray Galactic Centre Excess (GCE) remains one of the few observed high-energy signals for which a dark matter (DM) origin is a plausible explanation. We present a deep learning-based analysis of the $\gamma$-ray sky in the Galactic Centre region, carefully accounting for the mathematical degeneracy between faint point-sources (PSs) such as millisecond pulsars (MSPs) and DM-like Poisson emission. Using recent models for the Galactic foregrounds, we find that relatively few bright PSs just below Fermi's detection threshold seem unlikely to explain the GCE, although we continue to find evidence for PSs. Looking ahead, further improvements in the modelling of the $\gamma$-ray sky will be crucial for distinguishing between a DM-like and point-like morphology of the signal.
Constraints on heavy dark matter annihilation and decay from electron and positron cosmic ray spectra

Holger Motz

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 035 (2023) · published 4 July 2023 | · pdf

Annihilation or decay of dark matter (DM) could contribute to the electron and positron cosmic-ray flux, allowing for constraints on DM parameters from its measurement. CALET is directly measuring the energy spectrum of electron+positron cosmic rays up into the TeV region most important for studying heavy DM, while AMS-02 provides a positron-only spectrum below the TeV range. Limits on DM annihilation and decay well into the TeV mass range have been derived from a combined analysis of both data-sets with an astrophysical background model including pulsars as the origin of the positron excess and individual nearby supernova remnant sources.
Status of DMRadio-50L and DMRadio-m$^3$

Nicholas M. Rapidis

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 036 (2023) · published 4 July 2023 | · pdf

Recent theoretical advancements have made the QCD axion a stronger dark matter candidate, especially in the sub-$\mu$eV range. While cavity haloscopes have made significant progress in excluding QCD axions in the 1-100 $\mu$ eV region, the 1 peV- 1 $\mu$eV region remains unexplored. The DMRadio program consists of a series of experiments designed to probe low mass axions. DMRadio-50L uses a 1 T average field toroidal magnet and a high-Q LC-oscillator with target sensitivity to axions of $g_{a\gamma\gamma} < 5 \times 10^{-15}\text{ GeV}^{-1}$between 5 kHz and 5 MHz. DMRadio-m$^3$ consists of a higher frequency LC-oscillator in a 4 T peak field solenoidal magnet with sensitivity to the DFSZ model of QCD axions between 30 MHz and 200 MHz. In this work, we present the status of DMRadio-50L and DMRadio-m$^3.$
Probing ALPs at the LUXE experiment

Federico Meloni on behalf of the LUXE collaboration

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 037 (2023) · published 4 July 2023 | · pdf

The proposed LUXE experiment (LASER Und XFEL Experiment) at DESY, Hamburg, aims to probe QED in its non-perturbative regime. In order to do this, LUXE will study the interactions between 16.5 GeV electrons from the European XFEL and high-intensity laser pulses. This experiment also provides a unique opportunity to probe physics beyond the Standard Model: exploiting the large photon flux generated at LUXE, it is possible to design a dedicated detector to probe axion-like-particles up to a mass of 350 MeV and with photon coupling of $3 \cdot 10^{-6}$ GeV$^{-1}$. This reach is comparable to the projected sensitivity of experiments like FASER2 at the HL-LHC and NA62 operating in dump mode.
Axion-like particle as cold dark matter via the misalignment mechanism with PQ symmetry unbroken during inflation

Pawel Kozow, Marek Olechowski

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 038 (2023) · published 4 July 2023 | · pdf

The QCD axion and axion-like particles (ALPs) are well motivated candidates for Cold Dark Matter (CDM). Such models may be divided into two classes depending on whether the associated Peccei-Quinn (PQ) symmetry is broken or not during inflation. The latter case is usually considered to be quite simple with relic density depending only on the corresponding decay constant and with no constraints from the known bounds on isocurvature perturbations. We will show that the situation is much more complicated. We will discuss conditions which should be fulfilled by ALP models with U(1) unbroken during inflation to be phenomenologically interesting.
Approaching the first any light particle search II science run

Aaron D. Spector for the ALPS Collaboration

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 039 (2023) · published 4 July 2023 | · pdf

The Any Light Particle Search II (ALPS II) is a light-shining-through-a-wall (LSW) experiment based at DESY in Hamburg, Germany, that will search for axions and axion-like particles down to the coupling of the axion to two photons of $g_{a\gamma\gamma}$ >2$\times10^{-11}$ GeV$^{-1}$ for masses below 0.1 meV. ALPS II will use two strings of superconducting dipole magnets that are over one hundred meters in length, as well as optical cavities before and after the wall to boost the effective signal rate of the regenerated photons by more than 12 orders of magnitude when compared to previous generations of LSW experiments. Data taking with a simplified optical system is expected to begin in early 2023.
Searching for wave-like dark matter with QSHS

Ian Bailey, Bhaswati Chakraborty, Gemma Chapman, Edward J. Daw, John Gallop, Gianluca Gregori, Edward Hardy, Ling Hao, Edward Laird, Peter Leek, John March-Russell, Phil Meeson, Seaárbhan Ó Peatáin, Yuri Pashkin, Mitchell G. Perry, Michele Piscitelli, Edward Romans, Subir Sarkar, Paul J. Smith, Ningqiang Song, Mahesh Soni, Boon K. Tan, Stephen West, Stafford Withington

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 040 (2023) · published 4 July 2023 | · pdf

In 2021 the Quantum Sensors for the Hidden Sector (QSHS) collaboration was founded in the UK and received funding to develop and demonstrate quantum devices with the potential to detect hidden sector particles in the $\mu$eV to 100 $\mu$eV mass window. The collaboration has been developing a range of devices. It is building a high-field, low-temperature facility at the University of Sheffield to characterise and test the devices in a haloscope geometry. This paper introduces the collaboration's motivation, aims, and progress.
ISAI: Investigating Solar Axion by Iron-57

Tomonori Ikeda, Toshihiro Fujii, Takeshi Go Tsuru, Yuki Amano, Kazuho Kayama, Masamune Matsuda, Hiromu Iwasaki, Mizuki Uenomachi, Kentaro Miuchi, Yoshiyuki Onuki, Yoshizumi Inoue, Akimichi Taketa

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 041 (2023) · published 4 July 2023 | · pdf

The existence of the axion is a unique solution for the strong CP problem, and the axion is one of the most promising candidates of the dark matter. Investigating Solar Axion by Iron-57 (ISAI) is being prepared as a complemented table-top experiment to confirm the solar axion scenario. Probing an X-ray emission from the nuclear transitions associated with the axion-nucleon coupling is a leading approach. ISAI searches for the monochromatic 14.4 keV X-ray from the first excited state of $^{57}$Fe using a state-of-the-art pixelized silicon detector, dubbed XRPIX, under an extremely low-background environment. We highlight scientific objectives, experimental design and the latest status of ISAI.
Can we really detect relic neutrinos?

Yevheniia Cheipesh, Ivan Ridkokasha, Vadim Cheianov, Alexey Boyarsky

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 042 (2023) · published 4 July 2023 | · pdf

Detecting relic neutrinos is a longstanding goal in fundamental physics. Experimentally, this goal is extremely challenging as the required energy resolution is defined by the tiny neutrino masses ($\sim$ 10 meV). The current consensus is that sufficient statistics together with a clean spectrum could only be achieved if beta decayers are attached to a solid state substrate. However, this inevitably imposes irreducible intrinsic limitations on the energy resolution coming from Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. This limitation appears to be critical for the currently accepted decayer - Tritium. Here, we analyze the state of the art approaches to mitigate this limitation and conclude that the most promising solution is to change Tritium for a heavier emitter. We find that the two suitable candidates are $^{171}$Tm, $^{63}$Ni.
Photon-ALP oscillations at CTA energies

M. Kachelriess, J. Tjemsland

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 043 (2023) · published 4 July 2023 | · pdf

Axions and axion-like-particles (ALPs) are well motivated beyond the standard model particles that can explain a variety of unsolved problems in physics, such as the strong CP problem and the nature of dark matter. These particles are characterised by their two-photon coupling, which leads to so-called photon-ALP oscillation as photons propagate through an external magnetic field. Such oscillations lead to characteristic signatures in the energy spectrum of high-energy photons from astrophysical sources, allowing us to probe the existence of ALPs and possibly dark matter. We review the signatures from ALPs in photon spectra and discuss a new method that can be used to directly search for the energy dependence of the oscillations. The focus is on photons at TeV-energies relevant for the upcoming Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA).
Global fits of Dirac dark matter effective field theories

Ankit Beniwal (On behalf of the GAMBIT Collaboration)

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 044 (2023) · published 4 July 2023 | · pdf

In this proceeding, we present results from a global fit of Dirac fermion dark matter (DM) effective field theory (EFT) based on arXiv:2106.02056 using the GAMBIT framework. Here we show results only for the dimension-6 operators that describe the interactions between a gauge-singlet Dirac fermion and Standard Model quarks. Our global fit combines the latest constraints from Planck, direct and indirect DM detection, and the LHC. For DM mass below 100 GeV, it is impossible to simultaneously satisfy all constraints while maintaining the EFT validity at high energies. For higher masses, however, large regions of parameter space remain viable where the EFT is valid and saturates the observed DM abundance.
The SU(2)$_{D}$ lepton portals for muon g - 2, W boson mass and dark matter

Seong-Sik Kim, Hyun Min Lee, Adriana Guerrero Menkara, Kimiko Yamashita

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 045 (2023) · published 4 July 2023 | · pdf

We propose a novel model which extends the Standard Model (SM) by introducing a $SU(2)_D$ gauge symmetry. In this model, a dark $SU(2)_D$ Higgs doublet and a Higgs bi-doublet can contribute to the muon g-2 anomaly and the $W$ boson mass, remaining in tune with the recent experimental results. At the same time, the isospin charged gauge boson of $SU(2)_D$ becomes a plausible candidate for Dark Matter(DM). We find that the resulting parameter space can fit the muon g-2, the W boson mass and the DM constraints simultaneously.
Light thermal relics enabled by a second Higgs

Johannes Herms, Sudip Jana, Vishnu P. K., Shaikh Saad

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 046 (2023) · published 4 July 2023 | · pdf

Sub-GeV thermal relic dark matter typically requires the existence of a light mediator particle. We introduce the light two-Higgs-doublet portal, illustrated by a minimal UV-complete model for sub-GeV dark matter with kinematically forbidden annihilations into leptons. All new physics states in this scenario lie at or below the electroweak scale, affecting Higgs physics, the muon anomalous magnetic moment and potentially neutrino masses. Observation of radiative dark matter annihilation by future MeV gamma-ray telescopes would be key to unambiguously identify the scenario.
SUSY-QCD corrections to squark annihilation into gluons and light quarks

Luca Paolo Wiggering

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 047 (2023) · published 4 July 2023 | · pdf

We calculate the full one-loop SUSY-QCD corrections to stop annihilation into gluons and light quarks including the Sommerfeld enhancement effect and discuss their impact on the neutralino relic density in the MSSM.
Searches for dark matter with the ATLAS detector

R. Pedro on behalf of the ATLAS Collaboration

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 048 (2023) · published 4 July 2023 | · pdf

The presence of a non-baryonic Dark Matter (DM) component in the Universe is inferred from the observation of its gravitational interaction. If DM interacts weakly with Standard Model (SM) particles it could be produced at the LHC. The ATLAS experiment has developed a broad search program for DM candidates in final states with large missing transverse momentum produced in association with other SM particles (light and heavy quarks, photons, Z and H bosons, as well as additional heavy scalar particles). The results of recent searches on 13 TeV pp data, their interplay and interpretation are presented.
Improved Galactic diffuse emission model strengthens the case for a Millisecond Pulsar explanation of the Fermi GeV excess

Oscar Macias, Martin Pohl, Chris Gordon, Phaedra Coleman

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 049 (2023) · published 4 July 2023 | · pdf

After more than a decade since its discovery, the Galactic center gamma-ray excess - discovered with the Fermi Large Area Telescope - remains puzzling. While the spectrum of the signal can be explained by either dark matter or an unresolved population of millisecond pulsars, the spatial morphology of this excess seems to hold the key to separate the two theories. In this contribution, we present the results of a recent study in which we use bleeding edge models for interstellar gas, inverse Compton emission, and stellar mass models to reanalyze the Galactic center excess. We find that the spatial morphology of the excess is highly correlated with stellar matter in the Galactic bulge, providing strong support for the millisecond pulsar hypothesis.
Dark sector studies with the PADME experiment

Anna Paola Caricato, Maurizio Martino, Isabella Oceano, Federica Oliva, Stefania Spagnolo, Gabriele Chiodini, Fabio Bossi, Riccardo De Sangro, Claudio Di Giulio, Danilo Domenici, Giuseppe Finocchiaro, Luca Gennaro Foggetta, Marco Garattini, Andrea Ghigo, Federica Giacchino, Paola Gianotti, Tommaso Spadaro, Eleuterio Spiriti, Clara Taruggi, Elisabetta Vilucchi, Venelin Kozhuharov, Simeon Ivanov, Sevtoslav Ivanov, Radoslav Simeonov, Georgi Georgiev, Fabio Ferrarotto, Emanuele Leonardi, Paolo Valente, Elizabeth Long, Giovanni Organtini, Gabriele Piperno, Mauro Raggi, Salvatore Fiore, Paolo Branchini, Diego Tagnani, Vittoria Capirossi, Federico Pinna, Andre Frankenthal

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 050 (2023) · published 4 July 2023 | · pdf

The Positron Annihilation to Dark Matter Experiment (PADME) uses the positron beam of the DA$\Phi$NE Beam-Test Facility, at the Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati (LNF) to search for a Dark Photon $A'$. The search technique studies the missing mass spectrum of single-photon final states in $e^+e^-\rightarrow A'\gamma$ annihilation in a positron-on-thin-target experiment. This approach facilitates searches for new particles such as long lived Axion-Like-Particles, protophobic X bosons and Dark Higgs. This talk illustrated the scientific program of the experiment and its first physics results. In particular, the measurement of the cross-section of the SM process $e^+e^-\rightarrow \gamma\gamma$ at $\sqrt{s}$=21 MeV was shown.
The scattering and neutrino detector at the LHC

Giovanni De Lellis

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 051 (2023) · published 5 July 2023 | · pdf

SND@LHC, Scattering and Neutrino Detector at the LHC, is a compact experiment designed to perform measurements with neutrinos produced at the LHC in the unexplored pseudo-rapidity region of 7.2 < $\eta$ < 8.4, complementary to all the other experiments at the LHC. The experiment was approved in March 2021. It was constructed in about one year and it is now taking data during the Run 3 of the LHC. In this paper we review the detector concept, the physics case and the status of the data taking.
Ruling out QCD phase transition as a PBH origin of LIGO/Virgo events

Joaquim Iguaz Juan

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 052 (2023) · published 5 July 2023 | · pdf

The best-motivated scenario for a sizable primordial black hole (PBH) contribution to the LIGO/Virgo binary black hole mergers invokes the QCD phase transition, which naturally enhances the probability to form PBH with masses of stellar scale. We reconsider the expected mass function assuming a CMB-like primordial spectrum and associated not only to the QCD phase transition proper, but also the $e^{+}e^{-}$ annihilation process, and analyze the constraints on this scenario from a number of observations. We find that the scenario is not viable, unless an ad hoc mass evolution for the PBH mass function and a cutoff in power-spectrum very close to the QCD scale are introduced by hand.
Exploring coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering of reactor neutrinos with the NUCLEUS experiment

C. Goupy, H. Abele, G. Angloher, A. Bento, L. Canonica, F. Cappella, L. Cardani, N. Casali, R. Cerulli, I. Colantoni, A. Cruciani, G. del Castello, M. del Gallo Roccagiovine, A. Doblhammer, S. Dorer, A. Erhart, M. Friendl, A. Garai, V. M. Ghete, D. Hauff, F. Jeanneau, E. Jericha, M. Kaznacheeva, A. Kinast, H. Kluck, A. Langenkämper, T. Lasserre, D. Lhuillier, M. Mancuso, B. Mauri, A. Mazzolari, E. Mazzucato, H. Neyrial, C. Nones, L. Oberauer, T. Ortmann, L. Pattavina, L. Peters, F. Petricca, W. Potzel, F. Pröbst, F. Pucci, F. Riendl, R. Rogly, M. Romagnoni, J. Rothe, N. Schermer, J. Schieck, S. Schönert, C. Schwertner, L. Scola, G. Soum Sidikov, L. Stodolsky, R. Strauss, M. Tamisari, C. Tomei, M. Vignati, M. Vivier, V. Wagner, A. Wex (The NUCLEUS collaboration)

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 053 (2023) · published 5 July 2023 | · pdf

The NUCLEUS experiment aims to perform a high-precision measurement of Coherent Elastic Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering (CEvNS) at the EdF Chooz B nuclear power plant in France. CEvNS is a unique process to study neutrino properties and to search for physics beyond the Standard Model. The study of CEvNS is also important for light Dark-Matter searches. It could be a possible irreducible background for high-sensitivity Dark-Matter experiments. NUCLEUS is an experiment under construction based on ultra-low threshold ($\sim$20 eV$_{nr}$) cryogenic calorimeters, operated at tens-of-mK temperatures.
Recent progresses on BSM and dark matter searches with CUORE

Antonio Branca on behalf of the CUORE Collaboration

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 054 (2023) · published 5 July 2023 | · pdf

The Cryogenic Underground Observatory for Rare Events (CUORE) is the first bolometric $0\nu\beta\beta$ experiment to reach the one-tonne mass scale. The detector, located underground at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso in Italy, consists of 988 TeO$_2$ crystals arranged in a compact cylindrical structure of 19 towers, operating at a base temperature of about 10 mK. After beginning its first physics data run in 2017, CUORE has since collected the largest amount of data ever acquired with a solid state detector and provided the most sensitive measurement of $0\nu\beta\beta$ decay in $^{130}$Te ever conducted. The large exposure, sharp energy resolution, segmented structure and radio-pure environment make CUORE an ideal instrument for a wide array of searches for rare events and symmetry violations. New searches for low mass dark matter, solar axions, CPT and Lorenz violations, and refined measurements of the $2\nu\beta\beta$ spectrum in CUORE have the potential to provide new insight and constraints on extensions to the standard model complementary to other particle physics searches. In this contribution, the recent progress on BSM and dark matter searches in CUORE are discussed.
Attenuation of cosmic-ray up-scattered dark matter

Helena Kolesova

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 055 (2023) · published 5 July 2023 | · pdf

GeV-scale dark matter particles with strong coupling to baryons evade the standard direct detection limits as they are efficiently stopped in the overburden and, consequently, are not able to reach the underground detectors. On the other hand, it has been shown that it is possible to probe this parameter space taking into account the flux of dark matter particles boosted by interactions with cosmic rays. We revisit these bounds paying particular attention to interactions of the relativistic dark matter particles in the Earth's crust. The effects of nuclear form factors, inelastic scattering and extra dependence of the cross section on transferred momentum (e.g. due to presence of light mediators) are studied and are found to be crucial for answering the question as to whether the window for GeV-scale strongly interacting dark matter is closed or not.
Mergers as a probe of particle dark matter

Anupam Ray

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 056 (2023) · published 5 July 2023 | · pdf

Black holes below Chandrasekhar mass limit (1.4 $M_{\odot}$) can not be produced via any standard stellar evolution. Recently, gravitational wave experiments have also discovered unusually low mass black holes whose origin is yet to be known. We propose a simple yet novel formation mechanism of such low mass black holes. Non-annihilating particle dark matter, owing to their interaction with stellar nuclei, can gradually accumulate inside compact stars, and eventually swallows them to low mass black holes, ordinarily impermissible by the Chandrasekhar limit. We point out several avenues to test this proposal, concentrating on the cosmic evolution of the binary merger rates.
Improved treatment of dark matter capture in compact stars

Sandra Robles

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 057 (2023) · published 5 July 2023 | · pdf

Compact stellar objects are promising cosmic laboratories to test the nature of dark matter (DM). DM captured by the strong gravitational field of these stellar remnants transfers kinetic energy to the star during the collision. This can have various effects such as anomalous heating of old compact stars. The proper calculation of the DM capture rate is key to derive bounds on DM interactions in any scenario involving DM accretion in a star. We improve former calculations, which rely on approximations, for both white dwarfs (WDs) and neutron stars (NSs). We account for the stellar structure, gravitational focusing, relativistic kinematics, Pauli blocking, realistic form factors, and strong interactions (NSs). Considering DM capture by scattering off either ions or degenerate electrons in WDs, we show that old WDs in DM-rich environments could probe the elusive sub-GeV mass regime for both DM-nucleon and DM-electron scattering. In NSs, DM can be captured via collisions with strongly interacting baryons or relativistic leptons. We project the NS sensitivity to DM-nucleon and DM-lepton scattering cross sections which greatly exceeds that of direct detection experiments, especially for low mass DM.
Testing the mean field theory of scalar field dark matter

Andrew Eberhardt, Alvaro Zamora, Michael Kopp, Tom Abel

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 058 (2023) · published 5 July 2023 | · pdf

Scalar field dark matter offers an interesting alternative to the traditional WIMP dark matter picture. Astrophysical and cosmological simulations are useful to constraining the mass of the dark matter particle in this model. This is particularly true at low mass where the wavelike nature of the dark matter particle manifests on astrophysical scales. These simulations typical use a classical field approximation. In this work, we look at extending these simulations to include quantum corrections. We look into both the ways in which large corrections impact the predictions of scalar field dark matter, and the timescales on which these corrections grow large. Corrections tend to lessen density fluctuations and increase the effect of "quantum pressure". During collapse, these corrections grow exponentially, quantum corrections would become important in about $\sim 30$ dynamical times. This implies that the predictions of classical field simulations may differ from those with quantum corrections for systems with short dynamical times.
Self-interacting dark matter on small and large scales

Camila A. Correa

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 059 (2023) · published 5 July 2023 | · pdf

In the self-interacting dark matter paradigm (hereafter SIDM), dark matter (DM) is assumed to have non-gravitational interactions with itself. SIDM has been constrained by observations of galaxy clusters. More recently, measurements of large DM densities at the center of the Milky Way's galaxy satellites are indicating that DM-DM interactions can potentially induce gravothermal core collapse. In this proceeding an overview of the combined measurements of cluster-size galaxies and kinematics of local satellite galaxies is used to argue that DM interactions should depend on the relative velocity of the DM particles.
Self-similar solutions for fuzzy dark matter

Raquel Galazo-Garcia, Philippe Brax, Patrick Valageas

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 060 (2023) · published 5 July 2023 | · pdf

Self-similar solutions for fuzzy dark matter are very different from their counterparts in the standard cold dark matter model. In contrast to the familiar hierarchical collapse of the current model for structure formation, they correspond to an inverse hierarchical blow-up. This fact highlights the gravitational cooling process, which in the absence of dissipation, allows the system to eject excess energy through the intermittent expulsion of clumps of matter. These surprising behaviours are due to the wave properties of the Schrödinger equation and to the quantum pressure. These features are printed in the Eulerian density-velocity representation of the nonrelativistic scalar field, or in the Lagrangian representation in the mass-shell trajectories.
Photomultiplier characterisation and its impact on background for SABRE South

William J. D. Melbourne, Owen Stanley, Phillip Urquijo, Madeleine J. Zurowski

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 061 (2023) · published 5 July 2023 | · pdf

SABRE (Sodium iodide with Active Background REjection) South is a NaI(Tl) based dark matter direct detection experiment located at the Stawell Underground Physics Laboratory (SUPL) [J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 2156, 012064 (2021), arXiv:2205.13849]. It is designed to detect an annual modulation of WIMP recoils as an independent replication of the long-standing DAMA/LIBRA modulation signal. SABRE South will have a low energy threshold of 1 keV in the NaI(Tl) crystal detector and a low experimental background. This requires precise characterisation of the photomultipliers used to understand both their sensitivity at low thresholds and their contribution to the background. We report on the photomultiplier characterisation test bench developed for the crystal detector photomultipliers including studies of the single photon response, transit time, and dark noise. A specific focus is on estimating the contribution to the experimental background of coincident photomultiplier noise due to its predominance at low energy and inability to be modelled using traditional MC simulation.
Impact of nuclear structure from shell model calculations on nuclear responses to WIMP elastic scattering for $^{19}$F and $^{nat}$Xe targets

Raghda Abdel Khaleq, Cedric Simenel, Andrew E. Stuchbery

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 062 (2023) · published 5 July 2023 | · pdf

Non-relativistic effective field theory (NREFT) is one approach used for describing the interaction of WIMPs with ordinary matter. Among other factors, these interactions are expected to be affected by the structure of the atomic nuclei in the target. The sensitivity of the nuclear response components of the WIMP-nucleus scattering amplitude is investigated using shell model calculations for $^{19}$F and $^{nat}$Xe. Resulting integrated nuclear response values are shown to be sensitive to some specifics of the nuclear structure calculations.
Influence of Geant4 physics list on simulation accuracy and performance

Róbert Breier, Alexander Fuss, Holger Kluck, Valentyna Mokina, Veronika Palušová, Pavel Povinec

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 063 (2023) · published 5 July 2023 | · pdf

A main goal of current low background physics is the search for rare and novel phenomena beyond the Standard Model of particle physics, e.g. the scattering off of a potential Dark Matter particle inside a CaWO$_4$ crystal or the neutrinoless double beta decay of Ge nucleus. The success of such searches depends on a reliable background prediction via Monte Carlo simulations. A widely used toolkit to construct these simulations is GEANT4, which offers a wide choice of physics models, so-called physics lists. To facilitate the selection of physics lists for simulations of CaWO$_4$ and Ge targets, we quantify their impact on the total energy deposition for several test cases.
ELOISE - Reliable background simulation at sub-keV energies

Holger Kluck

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 064 (2023) · published 5 July 2023 | · pdf

CaWO$_4$ and Al$_2$O$_3$ are well-established target materials used by experiments searching for rare events like the elastic scattering off of a hypothetical Dark Matter particle. In recent years, experiments have reached detection thresholds for nuclear recoils at the 10 eV-scale. At this energy scale, a reliable Monte Carlo simulation of the expected background is crucial. However, none of the publicly available general-purpose simulation packages are validated at this energy scale and for these targets. The recently started ELOISE project aims to provide reliable simulations of electromagnetic particle interactions for this use case by obtaining experimental reference data, validating the simulation code against them, and, if needed, calibrating the code to the reference data.
Disentangling sub-GeV dark matter from the diffuse supernova neutrino background using Hyper-Kamiokande

Sandra Robles

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 065 (2023) · published 5 July 2023 | · pdf

The upcoming Hyper-Kamiokande (HyperK) experiment is expected to detect the Diffuse Supernova Neutrino Background (DSNB). This requires to ponder all possible sources of background. Sub-GeV dark matter (DM) which annihilates into neutrinos is a potential background that has not been considered so far. We simulate DSNB and DM signals, as well as backgrounds in the HyperK detector. We find that DM-induced neutrinos could indeed alter the extraction of the correct values of the parameters of interest for DSNB physics. Since the DSNB is an isotropic signal, and DM originates primarily from the Galactic centre, we show that this effect could be alleviated with an on-off analysis.
First measurement results from DANAE - Demonstrating DePFET RNDR on a prototype Matrix

Alexander Bähr, Holger Kluck, Peter Lechner, Jelena Ninkovic, Jochen Schiek, Hexi Shi, Wolfgang Treberspurg, Johannes Treis

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 066 (2023) · published 5 July 2023 | · pdf

In the search for dark matter particle candidates, the mass region below 1 GeV/c$^2$ is relatively unprobed. Utilizing a low-noise silicon sensor as a sensitive target material, we aim to study the event signature of recoils between dark matter candidates and bound electrons. As the deposited energy is only a few eV, a sensor capable of detecting these low signals is required. We present first measurements on a prototype pixel matrix. It is based on the RNDR DePFET principle and provides a deep sub-electron readout noise of 0.2e$^-$ and below.
What charged cosmic rays tell us on dark matter

Pierre Salati

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 067 (2023) · published 5 July 2023 | · pdf

Dark matter particles could be the major component of the haloes of galaxies. Their mutual annihilations or decays would produce an indirect signature under the form of high-energy cosmic-rays. The focus of this presentation is on antimatter species, a component so rare that any excess over the background should be easily detected. After a recap on Galactic propagation, I will discuss positrons, antiprotons and anti-nuclei. For each of these species, anomalies have been reported. The antiproton excess, for instance, is currently a hot topic. Alas, it does not resist a correct treatment of theoretical and data errors.
Reference measurements for indirect dark matter searches with p+C collisions at the NA61/SHINE experiment

Michał Naskręt on behalf of the NA61/SHINE Collaboration

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 068 (2023) · published 5 July 2023 | · pdf

NA61/SHINE is a large-acceptance fixed-target experiment located at the CERN SPS, which studies final hadronic states in interactions of various particles and nuclei. It is unique in terms of providing data on a variety of collision systems at different collision energies. This allows for wide deuteron, antiproton and antideuteron production cross-section studies. The latter are currently considered a possible dark matter interaction signal with exceptionally small background. The measurements on carbon targets are important to reduce systematic experimental effects due to experiment-internal antideuteron production, as the most abundant element in the path of an incoming particle for the AMS-02 experiment is carbon. This manuscript will focus on analysis of NA61/SHINE data on p+C thin target collisions in the context of light (anti)nuclei production. A preliminary analysis of experimental data and the particle identification method as well as current deuteron and antideuteron yields will be described.
The DarkSide-20k TPC and underground argon cryogenic system

Thomas N. Thorpe on behalf of the DS-20k collaboration

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 069 (2023) · published 5 July 2023 | · pdf

DarkSide-20k (DS-20k) will exploit the physical and chemical properties of liquid argon (LAr) housed within a large dual-phase time project chamber (TPC) in its direct search for dark matter. The TPC will utilize a compact, integrated design with many novel features to enable the 20t fiducial volume of underground argon. Underground Argon (UAr) is sourced from underground CO$_2$ wells and depleted in the radioactive isotope $^{39}$Ar, greatly enhancing the experimental sensitivity to dark matter interactions. Sourcing and transporting the $\mathcal{O}$(100t) of UAr for (DS-20k) is costly, and a dedicated single-closed-loop cryogenic system has been designed, constructed, and tested to handle the valuable UAr. We present an overview of the (DS-20k) TPC design and the first results from the UAr cryogenic system.
Exponential enhancement of dark matter freezeout abundance

Bibhushan Shakya

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 070 (2023) · published 5 July 2023 | · pdf

A novel paradigm for thermal dark matter (DM), termed "bouncing dark matter", is presented. In canonical thermal DM scenarios, the DM abundance falls exponentially as the temperature drops below the mass of DM, until thermal freezeout occurs. This note explores a broader class of thermal DM models that are exceptions to this rule, where the DM abundance can deviate from the exponentially falling curve, and even rise exponentially, while in thermal equilibrium. Such scenarios can feature present day DM annihilation cross sections much larger than the canonical thermal target, improving the prospects for indirect detection of DM annihilation signals.
Annihilating dark matter search with 12 years of Fermi LAT data in nearby galaxy clusters

Charles Thorpe-Morgan, D. Malyshev, C.-A. Stegen, Andrea Santangelo, J. Jochum

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 071 (2023) · published 10 July 2023 | · pdf

Galaxy clusters contain an abundance of dark matter making them attractive laboratories for indirect DM searches. This work details a search for signals of pair annihilation from WIMP dark matter in the GeV gamma ray regime. We perform this search in five low $z$ and high galactic latitude galaxy clusters (Centaurus, Coma, Virgo, Perseus and Fornax); using nearly 12 years of Fermi/LAT data. Through the non-detection of this characteristic signal, we derive constraints on the annihilation cross-section of DM pair annihilation into the $b\overline{b}$, $W^+W^-$ and $\gamma\gamma$ channels. The limits obtained are of a comparable magnitude to those of recently derived from Fermi/LAT observations of dwarf spheroidal galaxies.
Dark Matter phenomenology in 2HDMS

Gudrid Moortgat-Pick, Juhi Dutta, Cheng Li, Merle Schreiber, Sheikh F. Tabira, Julia Ziegler

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 072 (2023) · published 6 September 2023 | · pdf

The constituents of dark matter are still an unresolved puzzle. Several Beyond Standard Model (BSM) Physics offer suitable candidates. In this study here we consider the Two Higgs Doublet model augmented with a complex scalar singlet (2HDMS) and focus on the dark matter phenomenology of 2HDMS with the complex scalar singlet as the dark matter candidate. The parameter space allowed from existing experimental constraints from dark matter, flavour physics and collider searches has been studied. The discovery potential for such a 2HDMS at HL-LHC and at future $e^+e^-$ colliders has been worked out.
Search for light WIMP recoils on methane with NEWS-G

Francisco A. Vazquez de Sola Fernandez on behalf of the NEWS-G collaboration

SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 073 (2024) · published 4 June 2024 | · pdf

The NEWS-G collaboration is searching for light dark matter using single-electron-threshold Spherical Proportional Counters (SPCs) filled with light gaseous targets (H, He, Ne). NEWS-G has built a new 140 cm diameter SPC equipped with a multi-anode ACHINOS sensor. Robust calibrations with a UV laser and an $\mathrm{^{37}}$Ar source were performed to characterize the detector response to low energy events and achieve statistical background rejection. This work presents preliminary results from physics data taken with methane, leading to world-leading spin-dependent sensitivity under 2 $\mathrm{GeV/c^{2}}$ WIMP masses.