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arXiv · 1002.4703

Results from a Search for Light-Mass Dark Matter with a P-type Point Contact Germanium Detector

C. E. Aalseth·P. S. Barbeau·N. S. Bowden·B. Cabrera-Palmer·J. Colaresi·J. I. Collar·S. Dazeley·P. de Lurgio·G. Drake·J. E. Fast·N. Fields·C. H. Greenberg·T. W. Hossbach·M. E. Keillor·J. D. Kephart·M. G. Marino·H. S. Miley·M. L. Miller·J. L. Orrell·D. C. Radford·D. Reyna·R. G. H. Robertson·R. L. Talaga·O. Tench·T. D. Van Wechel·J. F. Wilkerson·K. M. Yocum
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Abstract

We report on several features present in the energy spectrum from an ultra low-noise germanium detector operated at 2,100 m.w.e. By implementing a new technique able to reject surface events, a number of cosmogenic peaks can be observed for the first time. We discuss several possible causes for an irreducible excess of bulk-like events below 3 keVee, including a dark matter candidate common to the DAMA/LIBRA annual modulation effect, the hint of a signal in CDMS, and phenomenological predictions. Improved constraints are placed on a cosmological origin for the DAMA/LIBRA effect.

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C. E. Aalseth, P. S. Barbeau, N. S. Bowden, B. Cabrera-Palmer, J. Colaresi, J. I. Collar, S. Dazeley, P. de Lurgio, G. Drake, J. E. Fast, N. Fields, C. H. Greenberg, T. W. Hossbach, M. E. Keillor, J. D. Kephart, M. G. Marino, H. S. Miley, M. L. Miller, J. L. Orrell, D. C. Radford, D. Reyna, R. G. H. Robertson, R. L. Talaga, O. Tench, T. D. Van Wechel, J. F. Wilkerson, K. M. Yocum. 2010-02-25. Results from a Search for Light-Mass Dark Matter with a P-type Point Contact Germanium Detector. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.106.131301

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