6533b7d6fe1ef96bd126661e
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Atomic Ionization by Scalar Dark Matter and Solar Scalars
Andrei DereviankoV. A. DzubaH. B. Tran TanH. B. Tran TanVictor V. FlambaumVictor V. Flambaumsubject
PhysicsAtomic Physics (physics.atom-ph)010308 nuclear & particles physicsScalar (mathematics)Dark matterFOS: Physical sciencesGeneral Physics and AstronomyElectronCoupling (probability)01 natural sciencesPhysics - Atomic Physics3. Good healthNuclear physicsHigh Energy Physics - PhenomenologyHigh Energy Physics - Phenomenology (hep-ph)Ionization0103 physical sciencesContinuum (set theory)Absorption (logic)010306 general physicsAxiondescription
We calculate the cross-sections of atomic ionization by absorption of scalar particles in the energy range from a few eV to 100 keV. We consider both nonrelativistic particles (dark matter candidates) and relativistic particles which may be produced inside Sun. We provide numerical results for atoms relevant for direct dark matter searches (O, Na, Ar, Ca, Ge, I, Xe, W and Tl). We identify a crucial flaw in previous calculations and show that they overestimated the ionization cross sections by several orders of magnitude due to violation of the orthogonality of the bound and continuum electron wave functions. Using our computed cross-sections, we interpret the recent data from the Xenon1T experiment, establishing the first direct bounds on coupling of scalars to electrons. We argue that the Xenon1T excess can be explained by the emission of scalars from the Sun. While our finding is in a similar tension with astrophysical bounds as the solar axion hypothesis, we establish direct limits on scalar DM for the $\sim 1-10\,\mathrm{keV}$ mass range. We also update axio-ionization cross-sections. Numerical data files are provided.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-08-20 | Physical Review Letters |