Science coffee

The particle accelerator in the sky - Solar reflection of sub-GeV dark matter

by Timon Emken (Chalmers)

Europe/Stockholm
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Description

Direct detection experiments are searching for rare interactions between dark matter (DM) particles and ordinary matter. If the mass of these dark particles is too low, their kinetic energy does not suffice to trigger these detectors leaving them incapable to observe DM. Processes that boost DM particles can therefore extend the observational reach of direct DM searches to lower masses.
After a brief review of sub-GeV dark matter detection, I will discuss the mechanism and phenomenology of solar reflection, where DM particles get accelerated via a collision with a solar electron or nucleus. Compared to standard halo DM, solar reflection not only allows to probe lighter masses, a solar reflection signal would also feature a novel modulation signature.

Based on:
https://arxiv.org/abs/1709.06573
https://arxiv.org/abs/2102.12483