Search for Solar Axions Produced by Primakoff Conversion Using Resonant Absorption by 169^{169}Tm Nuclei

The search for resonant absorption of the Primakoff solar axions by $^{169}$Tm nuclei have been performed. Such an absorption should lead to the excitation of low-lying nuclear energy level: $A+^{169}$Tm $\to ^{169}$Tm$^*$ $\to ^{169}$Tm$+ \gamma$ (8.41 keV). The Si(Li) detector and $^{169}$Tm target placed inside the low-background setup were used for that purpose. As a result, a new restriction on the axion-photon coupling and axion mass was obtained: $g_{A\gamma}({GeV}^{-1})\cdot m_A(eV)\leq1.36\cdot10^{-5}$ (90% c.l.). In model of hadronic axion this restriction corresponds to the upper limit on axion mass - $m_A\leq$ 191 eV for 90% c.l.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Physics Letters

Light Yield in DarkSide-10: a Prototype Two-phase Liquid Argon TPC for Dark Matter Searches

As part of the DarkSide program of direct dark matter searches using liquid argon TPCs, a prototype detector with an active volume containing 10 kg of liquid argon, DarkSide-10, was built and operated underground in the Gran Sasso National Laboratory in Italy. A critically important parameter for such devices is the scintillation light yield, as photon statistics limits the rejection of electron-recoil backgrounds by pulse shape discrimination. We have measured the light yield of DarkSide-10 using the readily-identifiable full-absorption peaks from gamma ray sources combined with single-photoelectron calibrations using low-occupancy laser pulses. For gamma lines of energies in the range 122-1275 keV, we get consistent light yields averaging 8.887+-0.003(stat)+-0.444(sys) p.e./keVee. With additional purification, the light yield measured at 511 keV increased to 9.142+-0.006(stat) p.e./keVee.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, Accepted for publication in Astroparticle Physic

First result of the experimental search for the 9.4 keV solar axion reactions with 83Kr in the copper proportional counter

The experimental search for solar hadronic axions is started at the Baksan Neutrino Observatory of the Institute for Nuclear Researches of Russian Academy of Science (BNO INR RAS). It is assumed that axions are created in the Sun during M1 transition between the first thermally excited level at 9.4 keV and the ground state in 83Kr. The experiment is based on axion detection via resonant absorption process by the same nucleus in the detector. The big copper proportional counter filled with krypton is used to detect signals from axions. The experimental setup is situated in the deep underground low background laboratory. No evidence of axion detection were found after the 26.5 days data collection. Resulting new upper limit on axion mass is mA ≤ 130 eV at 95% C.L. © 2015, Pleiades Publishing, Ltd101sciescopu

Search for axioelectric effect of solar axions using BGO scintillating bolometer

A search for axioelectric absorption of solar axions produced in the (Formula presented.) reaction has been performed with a BGO detector placed in a low-background setup. A model-independent limit on the combination of axion-nucleon and axion-electron coupling constants has been obtained: (Formula presented.) for 90 % confidence level. The constraint of the axion-electron coupling constant has been obtained for hadronic axion with masses of (0.1-1) MeV: (Formula presented.). © 2014 The Author(s)

Search for low-mass dark matter WIMPs with 12 ton-day exposure of DarkSide-50

International audienceWe report on the search for dark matter WIMPs in the mass range below 10 GeV/c$^2$, from the analysis of the entire dataset acquired with a low-radioactivity argon target by the DarkSide-50 experiment at LNGS. The new analysis benefits from more accurate calibration of the detector response, improved background model, and better determination of systematic uncertainties, allowing us to accurately model the background rate and spectra down to 0.06 keV$_{er}$. A 90% C.L. exclusion limit for the spin-independent cross section of 3 GeV/c$^2$ mass WIMP on nucleons is set at 6$\times$10$^{-43}$ cm$^2$, about a factor 10 better than the previous DarkSide-50 limit. This analysis extends the exclusion region for spin-independent dark matter interactions below the current experimental constraints in the $[1.2, 3.6]$ GeV/c$^2$ WIMP mass range