The Direct Detection of sub-GeV Dark Matter: First Limits and Future Prospects
Rouven Essig
Stony Brook
Direct dark matter (DM) detection experiments almost always focus on
Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs), which have a mass in the
1?1000 GeV range. However, what if DM is not a WIMP? In this talk, new
direct detection strategies for DM particles with MeV to GeV mass will
be presented. In this largely unexplored mass range, DM can scatter with
electrons, causing ionization of atoms in a detector target material
and leading to single- or few-electron events. I will present the
first direct detection limits on DM as light as a few MeV, using XENON10
data. Theoretically interesting models can already be probed. Significant
improvements in sensitivity should be possible with dedicated experiments,
opening up a window to new regions in DM parameter space.
Date: | Mercredi, le 18 avril 2012 |
Heure: | 14:30 |
Lieu: | Université McGill |
| Ernest Rutherford Physics Building, R.E. Bell Conference Room (room 103) |
Contact: | Robert Rutledge |
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