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This content will become publicly available on August 1, 2026

Title: Probing Benchmark Models of Hidden-Sector Dark Matter with DAMIC-M
We report on a search for sub-GeV dark matter (DM) particles interacting with electrons using the DAMIC-M prototype detector at the Modane Underground Laboratory. The data feature a significantly lower detector single e rate (factor 50) compared to our previous search, while also accumulating a 10 times larger exposure of 1.3 kg day . DM interactions in the skipper charge-coupled devices (CCDs) are searched for as groups of two or three adjacent pixels with a total charge between 2 and 4 e . We find 144 candidates of 2 e and 1 candidate of 4 e , where 141.5 and 0.071, respectively, are expected from background. With no evidence of a DM signal, we place stringent constraints on DM particles with masses between 1 and 1000 MeV / c 2 interacting with electrons through an ultralight or heavy mediator. For large ranges of DM masses below 1    GeV / c 2 , we exclude theoretically motivated benchmark scenarios where hidden-sector particles are produced as a major component of DM in the Universe through the freeze-in or freeze-out mechanisms.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2413013 1812654 2413014
PAR ID:
10629486
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; more » ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; « less
Corporate Creator(s):
Publisher / Repository:
https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/2tcc-bqck
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Physical Review Letters
Volume:
135
Issue:
7
ISSN:
0031-9007
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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