First direct detection constraints on Planck-scale mass dark matter with multiple-scatter signatures using the DEAP-3600 detector

Journal article

Dark matter with Planck-scale mass (≃10¹⁹ GeV=c²) arises in well-motivated theories and could be produced by several cosmological mechanisms. A search for multiscatter signals from supermassive dark matter was performed with a blind analysis of data collected over a 813 d live time with DEAP-3600, a 3.3 t single-phase liquid argon-based detector at SNOLAB. No candidate signals were observed, leading to the first direct detection constraints on Planck-scale mass dark matter. Leading limits constrain dark matter masses between 8.3 × 10⁶ and 1.2 × 10¹⁹ GeV=c², and ⁴⁰Ar-scattering cross sections between 1.0 × 10⁻²³ and 2.4 × 10⁻¹⁸ cm². These results are interpreted as constraints on composite dark matter models with two different nucleon-to-nuclear cross section scalings.

Authors: Adhikari, P; Ajaj, R; Alpízar-Venegas, M; Auty, DJ; Benmansour, H

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• Journal: Physical Review Letters
• Volume: 128
• Issue: 1
• Article number: 11801
• Place of publication: United States
• Publication date: 2022-01-05
• Acceptance date: 2021-11-16
• DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.128.011801
• EISSN: 1079-7114
• ISSN: 0031-9007
• Pmid: 35061499
• Language: English
• Keywords: FFR