21 research outputs found
Nuclear Recoil Identification in a Scientific Charge-Coupled Device
Charge-coupled devices (CCDs) are a leading technology in direct dark matter
searches because of their eV-scale energy threshold and high spatial
resolution. The sensitivity of future CCD experiments could be enhanced by
distinguishing nuclear recoil signals from electronic recoil backgrounds in the
CCD silicon target. We present a technique for event-by-event identification of
nuclear recoils based on the spatial correlation between the primary ionization
event and the lattice defect left behind by the recoiling atom, later
identified as a localized excess of leakage current under thermal stimulation.
By irradiating a CCD with an AmBe neutron source, we demonstrate
identification efficiency for nuclear recoils with energies keV,
where the ionization events were confirmed to be nuclear recoils from topology.
The technique remains fully efficient down to 90 keV, decreasing to 50 at 8
keV, and reaching () at 1.5--3.5 keV. Irradiation with a Na
-ray source shows no evidence of defect generation by electronic
recoils, with the fraction of electronic recoils with energies keV that
are spatially correlated with defects .Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure
First Constraints from DAMIC-M on Sub-GeV Dark-Matter Particles Interacting with Electrons
We report constraints on sub-GeV dark matter particles interacting with electrons from the first underground operation of DAMIC-M detectors. The search is performed with an integrated exposure of 85.23 g days, and exploits the subelectron charge resolution and low level of dark current of DAMIC-M charge-coupled devices (CCDs). Dark-matter-induced ionization signals above the detector dark current are searched for in CCD pixels with charge up to 7e−. With this dataset we place limits on dark matter particles of mass between 0.53 and 1000 MeV/c2, excluding unexplored regions of parameter space in the mass ranges [1.6,1000] MeV/c2 and [1.5,15.1] MeV/c2 for ultralight and heavy mediator interactions, respectively
Search for Daily Modulation of MeV Dark Matter Signals with DAMIC-M
Dark Matter (DM) particles with sufficiently large cross sections may scatter
as they travel through Earth's bulk. The corresponding changes in the DM flux
give rise to a characteristic daily modulation signal in detectors sensitive to
DM-electron interactions. Here, we report results obtained from the first
underground operation of the DAMIC-M prototype detector searching for such a
signal from DM with MeV-scale mass. A model-independent analysis finds no
modulation in the rate of 1 events with periods in the range 1-48 h. We
then use these data to place exclusion limits on DM in the mass range [0.53,
2.7] MeV/c interacting with electrons via a dark photon mediator. Taking
advantage of the time-dependent signal we improve by 2 orders of
magnitude on our previous limit obtained from the total rate of 1 events,
using the same data set. This daily modulation search represents the current
strongest limit on DM-electron scattering via ultralight mediators for DM
masses around 1 MeV/c
Nuclear Recoil Identification in a Scientific Charge-Coupled Device
International audienceCharge-coupled devices (CCDs) are a leading technology in direct dark matter searches because of their eV-scale energy threshold and high spatial resolution. The sensitivity of future CCD experiments could be enhanced by distinguishing nuclear recoil signals from electronic recoil backgrounds in the CCD silicon target. We present a technique for event-by-event identification of nuclear recoils based on the spatial correlation between the primary ionization event and the lattice defect left behind by the recoiling atom, later identified as a localized excess of leakage current under thermal stimulation. By irradiating a CCD with an AmBe neutron source, we demonstrate identification efficiency for nuclear recoils with energies keV, where the ionization events were confirmed to be nuclear recoils from topology. The technique remains fully efficient down to 90 keV, decreasing to 50 at 8 keV, and reaching () at 1.5--3.5 keV. Irradiation with a Na -ray source shows no evidence of defect generation by electronic recoils, with the fraction of electronic recoils with energies keV that are spatially correlated with defects
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SENSEI: Characterization of Single-Electron Events Using a Skipper Charge-Coupled Device
We use a science-grade skipper charge-coupled device (skipper CCD) operating in a low-radiation background environment to develop a semiempirical model that characterizes the origin of single-electron events in CCDs. We identify, separate, and quantify three independent contributions to the single-electron events, which were previously bundled together and classified as "dark counts": dark current, amplifier light, and spurious charge. We measure a dark current, which depends on exposure, of (5.89±0.77)×10-4e-/pix/day, and an unprecedentedly low spurious charge contribution of (1.52±0.07)×10-4e-/pix, which is exposure independent. In addition, we provide a technique to study events produced by light emitted from the amplifier, which allows the detector's operation to be optimized to minimize this effect to a level below the dark-current contribution. Our accurate characterization of the single-electron events allows one to greatly extend the sensitivity of experiments searching for dark matter or coherent neutrino scattering. Moreover, an accurate understanding of the origin of single-electron events is critical to further progress in ongoing research and development efforts of skipper and conventional CCDs
Search for Daily Modulation of MeV Dark Matter Signals with DAMIC-M
International audienceDark Matter (DM) particles with sufficiently large cross sections may scatter as they travel through Earth's bulk. The corresponding changes in the DM flux give rise to a characteristic daily modulation signal in detectors sensitive to DM-electron interactions. Here, we report results obtained from the first underground operation of the DAMIC-M prototype detector searching for such a signal from DM with MeV-scale mass. A model-independent analysis finds no modulation in the rate of 1 events with periods in the range 1-48 h. We then use these data to place exclusion limits on DM in the mass range [0.53, 2.7] MeV/c interacting with electrons via a dark photon mediator. Taking advantage of the time-dependent signal we improve by 2 orders of magnitude on our previous limit obtained from the total rate of 1 events, using the same data set. This daily modulation search represents the current strongest limit on DM-electron scattering via ultralight mediators for DM masses around 1 MeV/c
Search for Daily Modulation of MeV Dark Matter Signals with DAMIC-M
International audienceDark Matter (DM) particles with sufficiently large cross sections may scatter as they travel through Earth's bulk. The corresponding changes in the DM flux give rise to a characteristic daily modulation signal in detectors sensitive to DM-electron interactions. Here, we report results obtained from the first underground operation of the DAMIC-M prototype detector searching for such a signal from DM with MeV-scale mass. A model-independent analysis finds no modulation in the rate of 1 events with periods in the range 1-48 h. We then use these data to place exclusion limits on DM in the mass range [0.53, 2.7] MeV/c interacting with electrons via a dark photon mediator. Taking advantage of the time-dependent signal we improve by 2 orders of magnitude on our previous limit obtained from the total rate of 1 events, using the same data set. This daily modulation search represents the current strongest limit on DM-electron scattering via ultralight mediators for DM masses around 1 MeV/c
Search for Daily Modulation of MeV Dark Matter Signals with DAMIC-M
International audienceDark Matter (DM) particles with sufficiently large cross sections may scatter as they travel through Earth's bulk. The corresponding changes in the DM flux give rise to a characteristic daily modulation signal in detectors sensitive to DM-electron interactions. Here, we report results obtained from the first underground operation of the DAMIC-M prototype detector searching for such a signal from DM with MeV-scale mass. A model-independent analysis finds no modulation in the rate of 1 events with periods in the range 1-48 h. We then use these data to place exclusion limits on DM in the mass range [0.53, 2.7] MeV/c interacting with electrons via a dark photon mediator. Taking advantage of the time-dependent signal we improve by 2 orders of magnitude on our previous limit obtained from the total rate of 1 events, using the same data set. This daily modulation search represents the current strongest limit on DM-electron scattering via ultralight mediators for DM masses around 1 MeV/c
Precision measurement of Compton scattering in silicon with a skipper CCD for dark matter detection
International audienceExperiments aiming to directly detect dark matter through particle recoils can achieve energy thresholds of . In this regime, ionization signals from small-angle Compton scatters of environmental -rays constitute a significant background. Monte Carlo simulations used to build background models have not been experimentally validated at these low energies. We report a precision measurement of Compton scattering on silicon atomic shell electrons down to 23eV. A skipper charge-coupled device (CCD) with single-electron resolution, developed for the DAMIC-M experiment, was exposed to a Am -ray source over several months. Features associated with the silicon K, L, and L-shells are clearly identified, and scattering on valence electrons is detected for the first time below 100eV. We find that the relativistic impulse approximation for Compton scattering, which is implemented in Monte Carlo simulations commonly used by direct detection experiments, does not reproduce the measured spectrum below 0.5keV. The data are in better agreement with calculations originally developed for X-ray absorption spectroscopy