Dark Matter Constraints from Isomeric $^{\bf 178m}$Hf

TL;DR

This study uses gamma-ray measurements from $^{178m}$Hf to set new constraints on inelastic dark matter interactions, exploring potential signals beyond radioactive decay.

Contribution

First measurement of gamma flux from $^{178m}$Hf for dark matter detection, establishing new limits on inelastic dark matter interactions.

Findings

Set upper limits on gamma flux from $^{178m}$Hf

Translated flux limits into constraints on dark matter parameter space

Outlined future experimental prospects with $^{178m}$Hf

Abstract

We describe a first measurement of the radiation from a $^{\bf 178m}$Hf sample to search for dark matter. The $\gamma$ flux from this sample, possessed by Los Alamos National Laboratory nuclear chemistry, was measured with a Ge detector at a distance of 4 ft due to its high activity. We search for $\gamma$s that cannot arise from the radioactive decay of $^{\bf 178m}$Hf, but might arise from the production of a nuclear state due to the inelastic scattering with dark matter. The limits obtained on this $\gamma$ flux are then translated into constraints on the parameter space of inelastic dark matter. Finally, we describe the potential reach of future studies with $^{\bf 178m}$Hf.