Inelastic WIMP-nucleus scattering to the first excited state in $^{125}$Te

TL;DR

This paper investigates the potential for detecting dark matter WIMPs through inelastic scattering to the first excited state of $^{125}$Te, highlighting the advantages of gamma-ray signatures over nuclear recoil in experimental detection.

Contribution

It introduces the study of inelastic WIMP scattering to the excited state of $^{125}$Te, expanding previous work on other isotopes and discussing experimental feasibility.

Findings

$^{125}$Te offers a promising target for inelastic WIMP detection.

Gamma-ray signatures can enhance detection prospects.

Discussion includes potential integration with CUORE experiment.

Abstract

The direct detection of dark matter constituents, in particular the weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), is considered central to particle physics and cosmology. In this paper we study transitions to the excited states, possible in some nuclei, which have sufficiently low lying excited states. Examples considered previously were the first excited states of $^{127}$I and $^{129}$Xe and $^{83}$Kr. Here we examine $^{125}$Te, which offers some advantages and is currently being considered as a target.In all these cases the extra signature of the gamma rays following the de-excitation of these states has definite advantages over the purely nuclear recoil and, in principle, such a signature can be exploited experimentally. A brief discussion of the experimental feasibility is given in the context of the CUORE experiment.