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arXiv · 1610.07656

The coherent photon scattering background in sub-GeV/$c^2$ direct dark matter searches

Alan E. Robinson
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Abstract

Proposed dark matter detectors with eV-scale sensitivities will detect a large background of atomic (nuclear) recoils from coherent photon scattering. This background climbs steeply below $\sim10$~eVnr, far exceeding the declining rate of low-energy Compton recoils. The upcoming generation of dark matter detectors will not be limited by this background, but further development of eV-scale and sub-eV detectors will require the use of low-$Z$ target materials, such as helium, to avoid a large rate of coherent photon scattering, or highly efficient methods to reject photons when they scatter.

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Alan E. Robinson. 2016-10-24. The coherent photon scattering background in sub-GeV/$c^2$ direct dark matter searches. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.95.069907

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