Improved liquid argon ionization model and its impact on the DarkSide low-mass WIMP search programme

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Author: Franco, Davide
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Franco, Davide
author_facet Franco, Davide
contents DarkSide-50 achieved leading WIMP limits down to 1.2 GeV/c2 with an ionization-only analysis, despite its small active mass of 46 kg compared to multi-ton noble-liquid detectors. Accurate modelling of the nuclear-recoil ionization yield (Qy) is central to interpreting such searches. A new global fit combining nuclear-recoil response measurements from DarkSide-50, ARIS, SCENE, and the recent ReD experiment constrains Qy between 0.4 and 150 keV within the Thomas-Imel box framework. The dependence on screening potentials is addressed through a Bayesian model comparison, which rejects the ZBL and Molière functions and strongly favours the Lenz-Jensen one. The resulting model improves DarkSide-50 sensitivity below 3 GeV/c2 and refines the DarkSide-20k sensitivity accordingly.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2601_00597
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Improved liquid argon ionization model and its impact on the DarkSide low-mass WIMP search programme
Franco, Davide
High Energy Physics - Experiment
DarkSide-50 achieved leading WIMP limits down to 1.2 GeV/c2 with an ionization-only analysis, despite its small active mass of 46 kg compared to multi-ton noble-liquid detectors. Accurate modelling of the nuclear-recoil ionization yield (Qy) is central to interpreting such searches. A new global fit combining nuclear-recoil response measurements from DarkSide-50, ARIS, SCENE, and the recent ReD experiment constrains Qy between 0.4 and 150 keV within the Thomas-Imel box framework. The dependence on screening potentials is addressed through a Bayesian model comparison, which rejects the ZBL and Molière functions and strongly favours the Lenz-Jensen one. The resulting model improves DarkSide-50 sensitivity below 3 GeV/c2 and refines the DarkSide-20k sensitivity accordingly.
title Improved liquid argon ionization model and its impact on the DarkSide low-mass WIMP search programme
topic High Energy Physics - Experiment
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.00597