# Direct Detection of Light Dark Matter and Solar Neutrinos via Color Center Production in Crystals

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel low-threshold detection method using color center defects in crystals to detect light dark matter and solar neutrinos, offering directional sensitivity and potential for background reduction.

## Contribution

It proposes a new detection technique based on defect creation in crystals, enabling detection of very light dark matter and solar neutrinos with directional information.

## Key findings

- Potential to detect dark matter as light as 10 MeV
- Demonstrates sensitivity through calculations on specific crystals
- Highlights directional detection and background reduction benefits

## Abstract

We propose a new low-threshold direct-detection concept for dark matter and for coherent nuclear scattering of solar neutrinos, based on the dissociation of atoms and subsequent creation of color center type defects within a lattice. The novelty in our approach lies in its ability to detect single defects in a macroscopic bulk of material. This class of experiments features ultra-low energy thresholds which allows for the probing of dark matter as light as $\mathcal{O}(10)$ MeV through nuclear scattering. Another feature of defect creation in crystals is directional information, which presents as a spectacular signal and a handle on background reduction in the form of daily modulation of the interaction rate. We discuss the envisioned setup and detection technique, as well as background reduction. We further calculate the expected rates for dark matter and solar neutrinos in two example crystals for which available data exists, demonstrating the prospective sensitivity of such experiments.