Novel direct detection constraints on light dark matter

TL;DR

This paper introduces new constraints on light dark matter by analyzing cosmic-ray generated components and their scattering signals in detectors, setting unprecedented limits on the DM-nucleon cross section.

Contribution

It presents a novel method to constrain light dark matter using cosmic-ray interactions, extending detection sensitivity below previous thresholds.

Findings

DM-nucleon cross section constrained below 10^{-31} cm^2

Constraints apply to both spin-independent and spin-dependent scattering

Method improves sensitivity for light dark matter detection

Abstract

All attempts to directly detect particle dark matter (DM) scattering on nuclei suffer from the partial or total loss of sensitivity for DM masses in the GeV range or below. We derive novel constraints from the inevitable existence of a subdominant, but highly energetic, component of DM generated through collisions with cosmic rays. Subsequent scattering inside conventional DM detectors, as well as neutrino detectors sensitive to nuclear recoils, limits the DM-nucleon scattering cross section to be below $10^{-31}$ cm$^2$ for both spin-independent and spin-dependent scattering of light DM.