Searching for dark matter with paleo-detectorsShow others and affiliations
Number of Authors: 52020 (English)In: Physics Letters B, ISSN 0370-2693, E-ISSN 1873-2445, Vol. 803, article id 135325
Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
A large experimental program is underway to extend the sensitivity of direct detection experiments, searching for interaction of Dark Matter with nuclei, down to the neutrino floor. However, such experiments are becoming increasingly difficult and costly due to the large target masses and exquisite background rejection needed for the necessary improvements in sensitivity. We investigate an alternative approach to the detection of Dark Matter-nucleon interactions: Searching for the persistent traces left by Dark Matter scattering in ancient minerals obtained from much deeper than current underground laboratories. We estimate the sensitivity of paleo-detectors, which extends far beyond current upper limits for a wide range of Dark Matter masses. The sensitivity of our proposal also far exceeds the upper limits set by Snowden-Ifft et al. more than three decades ago using ancient Mica in an approach similar to paleo-detectors.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2020. Vol. 803, article id 135325
National Category
Physical Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:su:diva-181321DOI: 10.1016/j.physletb.2020.135325ISI: 000521730300059OAI: oai:DiVA.org:su-181321DiVA, id: diva2:1431206
2020-05-192020-05-192022-03-23Bibliographically approved