XENONnT and LUX-ZEPLIN constraints on DSNB-boosted dark matter

TL;DR

This paper uses data from XENONnT and LUX-ZEPLIN to set new constraints on sub-GeV boosted dark matter particles produced via the diffuse supernova neutrino background, emphasizing Earth's attenuation effects.

Contribution

It introduces a novel analysis of direct detection data to constrain boosted dark matter in the sub-GeV range, accounting for Earth's attenuation and nuclear size effects.

Findings

New constraints on sub-GeV boosted dark matter scattering cross sections.

Demonstrates the importance of Earth's attenuation in analysis.

Highlights the potential of direct detection experiments for light dark matter detection.

Abstract

We consider a scenario in which dark matter particles are accelerated to semi-relativistic velocities through their scattering with the Diffuse Supernova Neutrino Background. Such a subdominant, but more energetic dark matter component can be then detected via its scattering on the electrons and nucleons inside direct detection experiments. This opens up the possibility to probe the sub-GeV mass range, a region of parameter space that is usually not accessible at such facilities. We analyze current data from the XENONnT and LUX-ZEPLIN experiments and we obtain novel constraints on the scattering cross sections of sub-GeV boosted dark matter with both nucleons and electrons. We also highlight the importance of carefully taking into account Earth's attenuation effects as well as the finite nuclear size into the analysis. By comparing our results to other existing constraints, we show that these effects lead to improved and more robust constraints.