Search for Boosted Dark Matter at ProtoDUNE

TL;DR

This paper proposes an experimental test for inelastic boosted dark matter using ProtoDUNE detectors, exploring unique signatures and background mitigation strategies to identify potential dark matter signals.

Contribution

It introduces the first experimental approach to detect inelastic boosted dark matter at ProtoDUNE, including background control and phenomenological analysis with a dark photon model.

Findings

Potential to identify boosted dark matter signatures

Backgrounds can be effectively controlled with dedicated analyses

Feasibility of probing dark-sector models at ProtoDUNE

Abstract

We propose the first experimental test of the inelastic boosted dark matter hypothesis, capitalizing on the new physics potential with the imminent data taking of the ProtoDUNE detectors. More specifically, we explore various experimental signatures at the cosmic frontier, arising in boosted dark matter scenarios, i.e., relativistic, inelastic scattering of boosted dark matter often created by the annihilation of its heavier component which usually comprises of the dominant relic abundance. Although features are unique enough to isolate signal events from potential backgrounds, vetoing a vast amount of cosmic background is rather challenging as the detectors are located on the ground. We argue, with a careful estimate, that such backgrounds nevertheless can be well under control by performing dedicated analyses after data acquisition. We then discuss some phenomenological studies which can be achieved with ProtoDUNE, employing a dark photon scenario as our benchmark dark-sector model.