Akerib, D.S., Alsum, S., Araújo, H.M. et al. (93 more authors) (2025) Nuclear recoil calibration at Sub-keV energies in LUX and its impact on dark matter search sensitivity. Physical Review Letters, 134 (6). 061002. ISSN 0031-9007
Abstract
Dual-phase xenon time projection chamber (TPC) detectors offer heightened sensitivities for dark matter detection across a spectrum of particle masses. To broaden their capability to low-mass dark matter interactions, we investigated the light and charge responses of liquid xenon (LXe) to sub-keV nuclear recoils. Using neutron events from a pulsed Adelphi Deuterium-Deuterium neutron generator, an in situ calibration was conducted on the LUX detector. We demonstrate direct measurements of light and charge yields down to 0.45 and 0.27 keV, respectively, both approaching single quanta production, the physical limit of LXe detectors. These results hold significant implications for the future of dual-phase xenon TPCs in detecting low-mass dark matter via nuclear recoils.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2025 American Physical Society. This is an author-produced version of a paper subsequently published in Physical Review Letters. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Electronic excitation & ionization; Particle dark matter; Dark matter detectors |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Science (Sheffield) > School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number Science and Technology Facilities Council 2887505 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCIL ST/W000547/1 Science and Technology Facilities Council 2480818 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCIL ST/S000747/1 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 19 Feb 2025 11:46 |
Last Modified: | 19 Feb 2025 11:46 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | American Physical Society (APS) |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1103/physrevlett.134.061002 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:223534 |