The Oscura Experiment

TL;DR

The Oscura experiment aims to detect low-mass dark matter particles using advanced silicon CCDs with unprecedented sensitivity, entering construction soon after significant technical progress and R&D efforts.

Contribution

This work introduces a novel large-scale silicon CCD array for dark matter detection, with new fabrication, readout, and background mitigation techniques.

Findings

Progress in CCD fabrication with new foundries

Development of a cold readout solution

Understanding of experimental backgrounds

Abstract

The Oscura experiment will lead the search for low-mass dark matter particles using a very large array of novel silicon Charge Coupled Devices (CCDs) with a threshold of two electrons and with a total exposure of 30 kg-yr. The R&D effort, which began in FY20, is currently entering the design phase with the goal of being ready to start construction in late 2024. Oscura will have unprecedented sensitivity to sub-GeV dark matter particles that interact with electrons, probing dark matter-electron scattering for masses down to 500 keV and dark matter being absorbed by electrons for masses down to 1 eV. The Oscura R&D effort has made some significant progress on the main technical challenges of the experiment, of which the most significant are engaging new foundries for the fabrication of the CCD sensors, developing a cold readout solution, and understanding the experimental backgrounds.