We search for dark matter (DM) with a mass [3,12] GeV/c2 using an exposure of 3.51 tonne year with the XENONnT experiment. We consider spin-independent DM-nucleon interactions mediated by a heavy or light mediator, spin-dependent DM-neutron interactions, momentum-dependent DM scattering, and mirror DM. Using a lowered energy threshold compared to the previous weakly interacting massive particle search, a blind analysis of [0.5, 5.0] keV nuclear recoil events reveals no significant signal excess over the background. XENONnT excludes spin-independent DM-nucleon cross sections >2.5×10-45 cm2 at 90% confidence level for 6 GeV/c2 DM. In the considered mass range, the DM sensitivity approaches the "neutrino fog,"the limitation where neutrinos produce a signal that is indistinguishable from that of light DM-xenon nucleus scattering.

First Search for Light Dark Matter in the Neutrino Fog with XENONnT / Aprile, E., Aalbers, J., Abe, K., Ahmed Maouloud, S., Althueser, L., Andrieu, B., Angelino, E., Anton Martin, D., Arneodo, F., Baudis, L., Bazyk, M., Bellagamba, L., Biondi, R., Bismark, A., Boese, K., Brown, A., Bruno, G., Budnik, R., Cai, C., Capelli, C., et al.. - In: PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS. - ISSN 0031-9007. - 134:11(2025). [10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.111802]

First Search for Light Dark Matter in the Neutrino Fog with XENONnT

Iacovacci M.;Mastroianni S.;
2025

Abstract

We search for dark matter (DM) with a mass [3,12] GeV/c2 using an exposure of 3.51 tonne year with the XENONnT experiment. We consider spin-independent DM-nucleon interactions mediated by a heavy or light mediator, spin-dependent DM-neutron interactions, momentum-dependent DM scattering, and mirror DM. Using a lowered energy threshold compared to the previous weakly interacting massive particle search, a blind analysis of [0.5, 5.0] keV nuclear recoil events reveals no significant signal excess over the background. XENONnT excludes spin-independent DM-nucleon cross sections >2.5×10-45 cm2 at 90% confidence level for 6 GeV/c2 DM. In the considered mass range, the DM sensitivity approaches the "neutrino fog,"the limitation where neutrinos produce a signal that is indistinguishable from that of light DM-xenon nucleus scattering.
2025
First Search for Light Dark Matter in the Neutrino Fog with XENONnT / Aprile, E., Aalbers, J., Abe, K., Ahmed Maouloud, S., Althueser, L., Andrieu, B., Angelino, E., Anton Martin, D., Arneodo, F., Baudis, L., Bazyk, M., Bellagamba, L., Biondi, R., Bismark, A., Boese, K., Brown, A., Bruno, G., Budnik, R., Cai, C., Capelli, C., et al.. - In: PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS. - ISSN 0031-9007. - 134:11(2025). [10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.111802]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11588/1045696
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