First Direct-Detection Constraints on eV-Scale Hidden-Photon Dark Matter with DAMIC at SNOLAB

TL;DR

This paper reports the first direct detection constraints on eV-scale hidden-photon dark matter using DAMIC at SNOLAB, setting new limits on the kinetic mixing parameter and demonstrating sensitivity to low-energy ionization signals.

Contribution

It provides the first direct detection constraints on hidden-photon dark matter in the 1.2-30 eV mass range and demonstrates sensitivity to ionization signals below 12 eV.

Findings

Most stringent constraints on hidden-photon dark matter in 3-12 eV range.

Sensitivity to ionization signals below 12 eV from dark matter interactions.

Competitive limits on kinetic mixing parameter $$ reaching 2.2×10^{-14} at 17 eV.

Abstract

We present direct detection constraints on the absorption of hidden-photon dark matter with particle masses in the range 1.2-30 eV$c^{-2}$ with the DAMIC experiment at SNOLAB. Under the assumption that the local dark matter is entirely constituted of hidden photons, the sensitivity to the kinetic mixing parameter $\kappa$ is competitive with constraints from solar emission, reaching a minimum value of 2.2$\times$$10^{-14}$ at 17 eV$c^{-2}$. These results are the most stringent direct detection constraints on hidden-photon dark matter in the galactic halo with masses 3-12 eV$c^{-2}$ and the first demonstration of direct experimental sensitivity to ionization signals $<$12 eV from dark matter interactions.