Physics

Probing sub-GeV dark matter scattering through sidereal modulation

by Tetiana Kozynets (University of Liverpool)

Europe/Rome
Ex-ISEF/Building-Room D (GSSI)

Ex-ISEF/Building-Room D

GSSI

20
Description

Abstract: At sub-GeV dark matter masses, spin-independent (SI) dark matter-nucleon scattering remains largely unconstrained by direct detection experiments. In this talk, I will show that this parameter space can be probed through the scattering of Galactic dark matter within the Earth en route to direct detection facilities. The trajectories and spectra of the dark matter particles are progressively distorted with increasing Earth-crossing path length, creating anisotropy in the dark matter flux incident on the detector. Combined with the Earth’s periodic rotation about its axis, this leads to a characteristic daily modulation of the dark matter signal, which can be distinguished from time-independent backgrounds even at very low energy thresholds. I will present statistical techniques which can be used to utilise this signature and derive the expected SI dark matter-nucleon cross section sensitivities for noble liquid targets.