First Dark Matter Search Results from a Surface Run of the 10-L DMTPC Directional Dark Matter Detector

TL;DR

This paper reports the first dark matter search results using the DMTPC detector, which measures nuclear recoil directions, setting new limits on WIMP-proton interactions in a surface run.

Contribution

It presents the initial dark matter search results from a directional detector using a 10-liter TPC, demonstrating the detector's capability and establishing new upper limits.

Findings

Set a 90% C.L. upper limit on WIMP-proton cross section of 2.0 x 10^{-33} cm^{2}

Analyzed 35.7 g-day exposure in the 80-200 keV recoil energy range

First dark matter limit from a surface run of a directional detector.

Abstract

The Dark Matter Time Projection Chamber (DMTPC) is a low pressure (75 Torr CF4) 10 liter detector capable of measuring the vector direction of nuclear recoils with the goal of directional dark matter detection. In this paper we present the first dark matter limit from DMTPC. In an analysis window of 80-200 keV recoil energy, based on a 35.7 g-day exposure, we set a 90% C.L. upper limit on the spin-dependent WIMP-proton cross section of 2.0 x 10^{-33} cm^{2} for 115 GeV/c^2 dark matter particle mass.