First Dark Matter Search Results from the XENON1T Experiment

The XENONnT dark matter experiment

The multi-staged XENON program at INFN Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso aims to detect dark matter with two-phase liquid xenon time projection chambers of increasing size and sensitivity. The XENONnT experiment is the latest detector in the program, planned to be an upgrade of its predecessor XENON1T. It features an active target of 5.9 tonnes of cryogenic liquid xenon (8.5 tonnes total mass in cryostat). The experiment is expected to extend the sensitivity to WIMP dark matter by more than an order of magnitude compared to XENON1T, thanks to the larger active mass and the significantly reduced background, improved by novel systems such as a radon removal plant and a neutron veto. This article describes the XENONnT experiment and its sub-systems in detail and reports on the detector performance during the first science run.

Dark Matter Induced Power in Quantum Devices

We point out that power measurements of single quasiparticle devices open a new avenue to detect dark matter (DM). The threshold of these devices is set by the Cooper pair binding energy, and is therefore so low that they can detect DM as light as about an MeV incoming from the Galactic halo, as well as the low-velocity thermalized DM component potentially present in the Earth. Using existing power measurements with these new devices, as well as power measurements with SuperCDMS-CPD, we set new constraints on the spin-independent DM scattering cross section for DM masses from about 10 MeV to 10 GeV. We outline future directions to improve sensitivity to both halo DM and a thermalized DM population in the Earth using power deposition in quantum devices.

The Xenon Road to Direct Detection of Dark Matter at LNGS: The XENON Project

Dark matter is a milestone in the understanding of the Universe and a portal to the discovery of new physics beyond the Standard Model of particles. The direct search for dark matter has become one of the most active fields of experimental physics in the last few decades. Liquid Xenon (LXe) detectors demonstrated the highest sensitivities to the main dark matter candidates (Weakly Interactive Massive Particles, WIMP). The experiments of the XENON project, located in the underground INFN Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS) in Italy, are leading the field thanks to the dual-phase LXe time projection chamber (TPC) technology. Since the first prototype XENON10 built in 2005, each detector of the XENON project achieved the highest sensitivity to WIMP dark matter. XENON increased the LXe target mass by nearly a factor 400, up to the 5.9 t of the current XENONnT detector installed at LNGS in 2020. Thanks to an unprecedentedly low background level, XENON1T (predecessor of XENONnT) set the world best limits on WIMP dark matter to date, for an overall boost of more than 3 orders of magnitude to the experimental sensitivity since the XENON project started. In this work, we review the principles of direct dark matter detection with LXe TPCs, the detectors of the XENON project, the challenges posed by background mitigation to ultra-low levels, and the main results achieved by the XENON project in the search for dark matter.

Axion-mediated electron-electron interaction in ytterbium monohydroxide molecule

The YbOH triatomic molecule can be efficiently used to measure the electron electric dipole moment, which violates time-reversal (T) and spatial parity (P) symmetries of fundamental interactions [Kozyryev and Hutzler, Phys. Rev. Lett. 119, 133002 (2017)]. We study another mechanism of the T, P-violation in the YbOH molecule-the electron-electron interaction mediated by the low-mass axionlike particle. For this, we calculate the molecular constant that characterizes this interaction and use it to estimate the expected magnitude of the effect to be measured. It is shown that this molecular constant has the same order of magnitude as the corresponding molecular constant corresponding to the axion-mediated electron-nucleus interaction. According to our estimation, an experiment on YbOH will allow one to set updated laboratory constraints on the CP-violating electron-axion coupling constants.

Exploring direct detection suppressed regions in a simple 2-scalar mediator model of scalar dark matter

We explore regions of parameter space that give rise to suppressed direct detection cross sections in a simple model of scalar dark matter with a scalar portal that mixes with the standard model Higgs. We found that even this simple model allows considerable room in the parameter space that has not been excluded by direct detection limits. A number of effects leading to this result have been previously noted. Our main new result explores interference effects between different contributions to DM annihilation when the DM mass is larger than the scalar portal mass. New annihilation channels open up and the parameters of the model need to compensate to give the correct DM relic abundance, resulting in smaller direct detection cross sections. We find that even in a very simple model of DM there are still sizeable regions of parameter space that are not ruled out by experiment.

Search for Coherent Elastic Scattering of Solar ^{8}B Neutrinos in the XENON1T Dark Matter Experiment

We report on a search for nuclear recoil signals from solar ^{8}B neutrinos elastically scattering off xenon nuclei in XENON1T data, lowering the energy threshold from 2.6 to 1.6  keV. We develop a variety of novel techniques to limit the resulting increase in backgrounds near the threshold. No significant ^{8}B neutrinolike excess is found in an exposure of 0.6  t×y. For the first time, we use the nondetection of solar neutrinos to constrain the light yield from 1-2 keV nuclear recoils in liquid xenon, as well as nonstandard neutrino-quark interactions. Finally, we improve upon world-leading constraints on dark matter-nucleus interactions for dark matter masses between 3 and 11  GeV c^{-2} by as much as an order of magnitude.

Heavy Thermal Dark Matter from a New Collision Mechanism

We propose a new thermal freeze-out mechanism that results in dark matter masses exceeding the unitarity bound by many orders of magnitude, without violating perturbative unitarity or modifying the standard cosmology. The process determining the relic abundance is χζ^{†}→ζζ, where χ is the dark matter candidate. For m_{ζ}<m_{χ}<3m_{ζ}, χ is cosmologically long-lived and scatters against the exponentially more abundant ζ. Therefore, such a process allows for exponentially heavier dark matter for the same interaction strength as a particle undergoing ordinary 2→2 freeze-out, or equivalently, exponentially weaker interactions for the same mass. We demonstrate this mechanism in a leptophilic dark matter model, which allows for dark matter masses up to 10^{9}  GeV.

Heavy Quark Symmetry and Fine Structure of the Spectrum of Hadronic Dark Matter

We analyze the structure of excited states of new heavy hadrons in the scenario with hadronic dark matter. Fine mass-splitting in a doublet of new mesons stipulates the existence of charged metastable heavy mesons. We describe the structure of new meson excited states in the framework of the heavy quark effective theory. Phenomenological consequences of fine and hyperfine splitting are considered in the hadronic dark matter scenario and beyond.

New Physics of Strong Interaction and Dark Universe

The history of dark universe physics can be traced from processes in the very early universe to the modern dominance of dark matter and energy. Here, we review the possible nontrivial role of strong interactions in cosmological effects of new physics. In the case of ordinary QCD interaction, the existence of new stable colored particles such as new stable quarks leads to new exotic forms of matter, some of which can be candidates for dark matter. New QCD-like strong interactions lead to new stable composite candidates bound by QCD-like confinement. We put special emphasis on the effects of interaction between new stable hadrons and ordinary matter, formation of anomalous forms of cosmic rays and exotic forms of matter, like stable fractionally charged particles. The possible correlation of these effects with high energy neutrino and cosmic ray signatures opens the way to study new physics of strong interactions by its indirect multi-messenger astrophysical probes.

Hyperfine Splitting of Excited States of New Heavy Hadrons and Low-Energy Interaction of Hadronic Dark Matter with Photons, Nucleons, and Leptons

We consider the structure of excited states and low-energy interaction of hadronic dark matter with photons, leptons, and nucleons. Description of the lowest excited levels is fulfilled in an analogy with the standard heavy-light mesons. Using the effective vertex of new heavy hadrons interaction with W-boson, we calculate cross-section of the lepton scattering on the dark matter particle. Analysis of strong low-energy interaction of new hadrons was carried out within the effective meson-exchange model based on dynamical realization of SU(3)-symmetry. A cross-section of nucleon scattering on the hadronic dark matter was also calculated using this model. The most essential phenomenological consequences of the low-energy dark matter interaction with leptons and nucleons are discussed.

Directly Detecting Signals from Absorption of Fermionic Dark Matter

We present a new class of direct detection signals; absorption of fermionic dark matter. We enumerate the operators through dimension six which lead to fermionic absorption, study their direct detection prospects, and summarize additional constraints on their suppression scale. Such dark matter is inherently unstable as there is no symmetry which prevents dark matter decays. Nevertheless, we show that fermionic dark matter absorption can be observed in direct detection and neutrino experiments while ensuring consistency with the observed dark matter abundance and required lifetime. For dark matter masses well below the GeV scale, dedicated searches for these signals at current and future experiments can probe orders of magnitude of unexplored parameter space.

Interaction of Hadronic Dark Matter with Nucleons and Leptons

We analyze the low-energy Lagrangian of hadronic dark matter interaction with nucleons and leptons. The analysis was fulfilled within the framework of the effective meson-exchange model, which is based on dynamic realization of SU(3)-symmetry. Using this Lagrangian, we calculate the cross-section of low-energy scattering of nucleons on hadronic dark matter particles. Effective vertex of W-boson interaction with new hadrons is constructed and the cross-section of lepton scattering on dark matter particles is calculated.

Excluded Volume for Flat Galaxy Rotation Curves in Newtonian Gravity and General Relativity

Using the classical vacuum solutions of Newtonian gravity that do not explicitly involve matter, dark matter, or the gravitational constant, subject to an averaging process, a form of gravity relevant to the flattening of galaxy rotation curves results. The latter resembles the solution found if the vacuum is simply assigned a gravitational field density, and a volume of the vacuum is then excluded, with no averaging process. A rationale then follows for why these terms would become important on the galactic scale. Then, a modification of General Relativity, motivated by the Newtonian solutions, that are equivalent to a charge void, is partially defined and discussed in terms of a least action principle.

Finite-Size Dark Matter and its Effect on Small-Scale Structure

If dark matter has a finite size that is larger than its Compton wavelength, the corresponding self-interaction cross section decreases with the velocity. We investigate the implications of this puffy dark matter for addressing the small-scale problems of the Λ cold dark matter model and show that the way the nonrelativistic cross section varies with the velocity is largely independent of the dark matter internal structure. Even in the presence of a light particle mediating self-interactions, we find that the finite-size effect may dominate the velocity dependence. We present an explicit example in the context of a QCD-like theory and discuss possible ways to differentiate puffy dark matter from the usual light-mediator scenarios. Particularly relevant for this are low-threshold direct-detection experiments and indirect signatures associated with the internal structure of dark matter.

Light Dark Matter Search with Ionization Signals in XENON1T

We report constraints on light dark matter (DM) models using ionization signals in the XENON1T experiment. We mitigate backgrounds with strong event selections, rather than requiring a scintillation signal, leaving an effective exposure of (22±3) tonne day. Above ∼0.4  keV_{ee}, we observe <1  event/(tonne day keV_{ee}), which is more than 1000 times lower than in similar searches with other detectors. Despite observing a higher rate at lower energies, no DM or CEvNS detection may be claimed because we cannot model all of our backgrounds. We thus exclude new regions in the parameter spaces for DM-nucleus scattering for DM masses m_{χ} within 3-6  GeV/c^{2}, DM-electron scattering for m_{χ}>30  MeV/c^{2}, and absorption of dark photons and axionlike particles for m_{χ} within 0.186-1  keV/c^{2}.

Novel Direct Detection Constraints on Light Dark Matter

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.

Hadronic and Hadron-Like Physics of Dark Matter

The problems of simple elementary weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) appeal to extend the physical basis for nonbaryonic dark matter. Such extension involves more sophisticated dark matter candidates from physics beyond the Standard Model (BSM) of elementary particles. We discuss several models of dark matter, predicting new colored, hyper-colored or techni-colored particles and their accelerator and non-accelerator probes. The nontrivial properties of the proposed dark matter candidates can shed new light on the dark matter physics. They provide interesting solutions for the puzzles of direct and indirect dark matter search.

Constraining the Spin-Dependent WIMP-Nucleon Cross Sections with XENON1T

We report the first experimental results on spin-dependent elastic weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) nucleon scattering from the XENON1T dark matter search experiment. The analysis uses the full ton year exposure of XENON1T to constrain the spin-dependent proton-only and neutron-only cases. No significant signal excess is observed, and a profile likelihood ratio analysis is used to set exclusion limits on the WIMP-nucleon interactions. This includes the most stringent constraint to date on the WIMP-neutron cross section, with a minimum of 6.3×10^{-42}  cm^{2} at 30  GeV/c^{2} and 90% confidence level. The results are compared with those from collider searches and used to exclude new parameter space in an isoscalar theory with an axial-vector mediator.

Results of a Search for Sub-GeV Dark Matter Using 2013 LUX Data

The scattering of dark matter (DM) particles with sub-GeV masses off nuclei is difficult to detect using liquid xenon-based DM search instruments because the energy transfer during nuclear recoils is smaller than the typical detector threshold. However, the tree-level DM-nucleus scattering diagram can be accompanied by simultaneous emission of a bremsstrahlung photon or a so-called "Migdal" electron. These provide an electron recoil component to the experimental signature at higher energies than the corresponding nuclear recoil. The presence of this signature allows liquid xenon detectors to use both the scintillation and the ionization signals in the analysis where the nuclear recoil signal would not be otherwise visible. We report constraints on spin-independent DM-nucleon scattering for DM particles with masses of 0.4-5  GeV/c^{2} using 1.4×10^{4}  kg day of search exposure from the 2013 data from the Large Underground Xenon (LUX) experiment for four different classes of mediators. This analysis extends the reach of liquid xenon-based DM search instruments to lower DM masses than has been achieved previously.

First Direct Search for Inelastic Boosted Dark Matter with COSINE-100

A search for inelastic boosted dark matter (IBDM) using the COSINE-100 detector with 59.5 days of data is presented. This relativistic dark matter is theorized to interact with the target material through inelastic scattering with electrons, creating a heavier state that subsequently produces standard model particles, such as an electron-positron pair. In this study, we search for this electron-positron pair in coincidence with the initially scattered electron as a signature for an IBDM interaction. No excess over the predicted background event rate is observed. Therefore, we present limits on IBDM interactions under various hypotheses, one of which allows us to explore an area of the dark photon parameter space that has not yet been covered by other experiments. This is the first experimental search for IBDM using a terrestrial detector.

Search for dark matter produced in association with a Higgs boson decaying to a pair of bottom quarks in proton-proton collisions at s = 13 Te

A search for dark matter produced in association with a Higgs boson decaying to a pair of bottom quarks is performed in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13Te collected with the CMS detector at the LHC. The analyzed data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 35.9fb - 1 . The signal is characterized by a large missing transverse momentum recoiling against a bottom quark-antiquark system that has a large Lorentz boost. The number of events observed in the data is consistent with the standard model background prediction. Results are interpreted in terms of limits both on parameters of the type-2 two-Higgs doublet model extended by an additional light pseudoscalar boson a (2HDM+ a ) and on parameters of a baryonicZ ' simplified model. The 2HDM+ a model is tested experimentally for the first time. For the baryonicZ ' model, the presented results constitute the most stringent constraints to date.

First Results on the Scalar WIMP-Pion Coupling, Using the XENON1T Experiment

We present first results on the scalar coupling of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) to pions from 1  t yr of exposure with the XENON1T experiment. This interaction is generated when the WIMP couples to a virtual pion exchanged between the nucleons in a nucleus. In contrast to most nonrelativistic operators, these pion-exchange currents can be coherently enhanced by the total number of nucleons and therefore may dominate in scenarios where spin-independent WIMP-nucleon interactions are suppressed. Moreover, for natural values of the couplings, they dominate over the spin-dependent channel due to their coherence in the nucleus. Using the signal model of this new WIMP-pion channel, no significant excess is found, leading to an upper limit cross section of 6.4×10^{-46}  cm^{2} (90% confidence level) at 30  GeV/c^{2} WIMP mass.

Two-component Dark Matter in the vectorlike hypercolor extension of the Standard Model

We consider a minimal vectorlike extension of the Standard Model that naturally contains two types of stable neutral particles. They can be interpreted as the Dark Matter candidates. Here, the SM is supplemented by a new fermion (H-quark) sector that is in confilnement providing by the SU(2)HC gauge group. H-quarks interact with the SM particles via standard electroweak bosons. In analogy with the conventional QCD, H-quarks can form bound states, H-hadrons, that emerge in the σ− model framework. Along with the stable neutral H-pion, there is one more pseudo-goldstone (diquark) state, B0, which is stable and also can be a component of the DM. Mass splittings both for components of the H-pion triplet and for neutral H-pion and B0 have been calculated, it is shown that this splittings can be small. The relic abundance for this composition of the DM is analyzed as well as the DM particles scattering off nucleons. A feature of this scenario is that Dark Matter turns out to consist of particles which are close in mass but have different origin and interact differently with ordinary matter. So, the model predicts two-component structure of the DM together with some specifilc manifestations of it.

Signals of Dark Matter in hypercolor vectorlike extension of the SM

In the framework of hypercolor extension of the Standard Model we consider cosmic rays scattering off hidden mass candidates. Specifically, there are two components of the Dark Matter in this model having close masses but different origin. As a result, neutrino production in the processes of scattering ofhigh energy electrons on these DM candidates is substantially different, and the secondary neutrino canbe seen, in principle, at neutrino detectors. We also note other interesting aspects of these type reactions.

Hadronic Dark Matter

The possibility of hadronic Dark Matter particles is analised in the framework of the simplest extensions of the Standard Model. Hadronic particles possess strong interaction and consist of new heavy quark and light standard one. It is shown that the existence of heavy quarks does not contradict to the precision electro-weak restrictions on new physics. The neutral and charged pseudoscalar low-lying heavy states are considered as the Dark Matter particle and its mass-degenerated partner. We evaluated the values of their masses and lifetime of the charged component. The potential of low-energy interactions of these particles with nucleons is described in the framework of the exchangemeson model. Some peculiarities of the hadronic Dark Matter scenario are also discussed.

NonPrimordial Solar Mass Black Holes

We propose a mechanism that can convert a sizable fraction of neutron stars into black holes with mass ∼1  M_{⊙}, too light to be produced via stellar evolution. We show that asymmetric fermionic dark matter of mass on the teraelectron volt scale, with attractive self-interaction within the range that alleviates the problems of collisionless cold dark matter, can accumulate in a neutron star and collapse, forming a black hole that converts the rest of the star to a solar mass black hole. We estimate the fraction of neutron stars that can become black holes without contradicting neutron star observations. Such solar mass black holes could be in binary systems, which may be searched for by existing and forthcoming gravitational wave detectors. The (non-)observation of binary mergers of solar mass black holes may thus test the nature of dark matter.