在熊猫X-4T实验中寻找来自大气的轻暗物质。

Search for Light Dark Matter from the Atmosphere in PandaX-4T.

作者信息

Ning Xuyang, Abdukerim Abdusalam, Bo Zihao, Chen Wei, Chen Xun, Cheng Chen, Cheng Zhaokan, Cui Xiangyi, Fan Yingjie, Fang Deqing, Fu Changbo, Fu Mengting, Geng Lisheng, Giboni Karl, Gu Linhui, Guo Xuyuan, Han Chencheng, Han Ke, He Changda, He Jinrong, Huang Di, Huang Yanlin, Huang Junting, Huang Zhou, Hou Ruquan, Hou Yu, Ji Xiangdong, Ju Yonglin, Li Chenxiang, Li Jiafu, Li Mingchuan, Li Shuaijie, Li Tao, Lin Qing, Liu Jianglai, Lu Congcong, Lu Xiaoying, Luo Lingyin, Luo Yunyang, Ma Wenbo, Ma Yugang, Mao Yajun, Meng Yue, Qi Ningchun, Qian Zhicheng, Ren Xiangxiang, Shaheed Nasir, Shang Xiaofeng, Shao Xiyuan, Shen Guofang, Si Lin, Sun Wenliang, Tan Andi, Tao Yi, Wang Anqing, Wang Meng, Wang Qiuhong, Wang Shaobo, Wang Siguang, Wang Wei, Wang Xiuli, Wang Zhou, Wei Yuehuan, Wu Mengmeng, Wu Weihao, Xia Jingkai, Xiao Mengjiao, Xiao Xiang, Xie Pengwei, Yan Binbin, Yan Xiyu, Yang Jijun, Yang Yong, Yao Yukun, Yu Chunxu, Yuan Ying, Yuan Zhe, Zeng Xinning, Zhang Dan, Zhang Minzhen, Zhang Peng, Zhang Shibo, Zhang Shu, Zhang Tao, Zhang Wei, Zhang Yang, Zhang Yingxin, Zhang Yuanyuan, Zhao Li, Zheng Qibin, Zhou Jifang, Zhou Ning, Zhou Xiaopeng, Zhou Yong, Zhou Yubo, Su Liangliang, Wu Lei

机构信息

School of Physics and Technology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China.

出版信息

Phys Rev Lett. 2023 Jul 28;131(4):041001. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.131.041001.

DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.131.041001

PMID:37566838

Abstract

We report a search for light dark matter produced through the cascading decay of η mesons, which are created as a result of inelastic collisions between cosmic rays and Earth's atmosphere. We introduce a new and general framework, publicly accessible, designed to address boosted dark matter specifically, with which a full and dedicated simulation including both elastic and quasielastic processes of Earth attenuation effect on the dark matter particles arriving at the detector is performed. In the PandaX-4T commissioning data of 0.63 tonne·year exposure, no significant excess over background is observed. The first constraints on the interaction between light dark matter generated in the atmosphere and nucleus through a light scalar mediator are obtained. The lowest excluded cross section is set at 5.9×10^{-37} cm^{2} for a dark matter mass of 0.1 MeV/c^{2} and mediator mass of 300 MeV/c^{2}. The lowest upper limit of η to the dark matter decay branching ratio is 1.6×10^{-7}.

摘要

我们报告了一项针对通过η介子级联衰变产生的轻暗物质的搜索，η介子是宇宙射线与地球大气非弹性碰撞的产物。我们引入了一个新的通用框架，该框架可公开获取，专门用于处理增强型暗物质，利用这个框架对到达探测器的暗物质粒子进行了包括地球衰减效应的弹性和准弹性过程的完整且专门的模拟。在0.63吨·年曝光量的熊猫X-4T调试数据中，未观察到明显超过背景的信号。获得了大气中产生的轻暗物质与原子核通过轻标量媒介相互作用的首个限制。对于暗物质质量为0.1 MeV/c²和媒介质量为300 MeV/c²的情况，最低排除截面设定为5.9×10⁻³⁷ cm²。η到暗物质衰变分支比的最低上限为1.6×10⁻⁷。