Search for light dark matter in XENON10 data

Phys Rev Lett. 2011 Jul 29;107(5):051301. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.051301. Epub 2011 Jul 27.

Abstract

We report results of a search for light (≲10 GeV) particle dark matter with the XENON10 detector. The event trigger was sensitive to a single electron, with the analysis threshold of 5 electrons corresponding to 1.4 keV nuclear recoil energy. Considering spin-independent dark matter-nucleon scattering, we exclude cross sections σ(n)>7×10(-42) cm(2), for a dark matter particle mass m(χ)=7 GeV. We find that our data strongly constrain recent elastic dark matter interpretations of excess low-energy events observed by CoGeNT and CRESST-II, as well as the DAMA annual modulation signal.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cosmic Radiation*
  • Data Interpretation, Statistical*
  • Electrons*
  • Humans
  • Light
  • Nuclear Physics*
  • Photons
  • Scattering, Radiation