Dark matter sensitivity of multi-ton liquid xenon detectors

TL;DR

This paper evaluates the potential of multi-ton liquid xenon detectors, like DARWIN, to detect dark matter particles by analyzing their sensitivity to WIMP interactions considering realistic backgrounds and detector parameters.

Contribution

It provides a detailed sensitivity analysis of large-scale liquid xenon detectors for dark matter detection, incorporating realistic backgrounds and detector efficiencies.

Findings

Can probe spin-independent cross sections down to 2.5 x 10^-49 cm^2 at 40 GeV WIMP mass

Sensitivity limited by neutrino backgrounds at ultimate exposure levels

Detector improvements can significantly enhance dark matter detection capabilities

Abstract

We study the sensitivity of multi ton-scale time projection chambers using a liquid xenon target, e.g., the proposed DARWIN instrument, to spin-independent and spin-dependent WIMP-nucleon scattering interactions. Taking into account realistic backgrounds from the detector itself as well as from neutrinos, we examine the impact of exposure, energy threshold, background rejection efficiency and energy resolution on the dark matter sensitivity. With an exposure of 200 t x y and assuming detector parameters which have been already demonstrated experimentally, spin-independent cross sections as low as $2.5 \times 10^{-49}$ cm$^2$ can be probed for WIMP masses around 40 GeV/$c^2$. Additional improvements in terms of background rejection and exposure will further increase the sensitivity, while the ultimate WIMP science reach will be limited by neutrinos scattering coherently off the xenon nuclei.