Probing Sub-GeV Dark Matter via Migdal Effect-Induced Electron Excitations
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arXiv
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| Auteurs principaux: | , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
| Publié: |
2026
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| _version_ | 1866913072993533952 |
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| author | Kahlhoefer, Felix Su, Liangliang |
| author_facet | Kahlhoefer, Felix Su, Liangliang |
| contents | The electron ionization predicted by the Migdal effect in dark matter-nucleus scattering enhances experimental sensitivity to sub-GeV dark matter. In this work, we demonstrate that lower-energy electron excitations provide a novel and promising pathway, enabling the detection of even lighter dark matter particles previously considered inaccessible for direct searches. Direct detection experiments employing a superfluid $^4$He target can exploit this channel by observing electronic excitations via UV-photon emission. We calculate the resulting event rates and find that electron excitations induced by the Migdal effect make it possible to probe dark matter-nucleus scattering for dark matter masses as small as a few MeV. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_26773 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Probing Sub-GeV Dark Matter via Migdal Effect-Induced Electron Excitations Kahlhoefer, Felix Su, Liangliang High Energy Physics - Phenomenology The electron ionization predicted by the Migdal effect in dark matter-nucleus scattering enhances experimental sensitivity to sub-GeV dark matter. In this work, we demonstrate that lower-energy electron excitations provide a novel and promising pathway, enabling the detection of even lighter dark matter particles previously considered inaccessible for direct searches. Direct detection experiments employing a superfluid $^4$He target can exploit this channel by observing electronic excitations via UV-photon emission. We calculate the resulting event rates and find that electron excitations induced by the Migdal effect make it possible to probe dark matter-nucleus scattering for dark matter masses as small as a few MeV. |
| title | Probing Sub-GeV Dark Matter via Migdal Effect-Induced Electron Excitations |
| topic | High Energy Physics - Phenomenology |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.26773 |