arXiv subjects

L. E. França

Publications and source records attributed to L. E. França.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Achieving a 0.49 keV threshold in the COSINE-100 dark matter experiment

The COSINE-100 experiment searched for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) with NaI(Tl) crystals at the Yangyang Underground Laboratory. Using its full 6-year dataset, we lower the analysis threshold to 0.49 keV. A multi-layer perceptron classifier separates scintillation events from photomultiplier tube noise. It is trained with approximately $3\times10^{6}$ simulated scintillation waveforms per crystal, separately for groups of events with similar numbers of photoelectron clusters. The selection keeps more than 10% of scintillation events at 0.49 keV while limiting noise contamination to below 1%. The selection efficiency is validated with $^{22}$Na-calibration data and internal $^{22}$Na events, and the selection performance is stable over the six years of data taking. With this threshold, the median expected upper limit on the spin-dependent WIMP-proton cross section reaches $1.1\times10^{-36}$ cm$^2$ at a WIMP mass of 2.5 GeV/$c^2$, probing previously unexplored parameter space in the 2.0-2.8 GeV/$c^2$ mass range.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2026

Probing unexplored spin-dependent dark matter-proton coupling with few-photoelectron threshold in COSINE-100

We report new constraints on the spin-dependent scattering cross section between low-mass dark matter and protons using data collected by the COSINE-100 experiment. By implementing a specialized event selection process using a multi-layer perceptron and robust noise mitigation, this analysis pioneers a detection threshold of 3 and 4 isolated peaks, corresponding to the reconstructed photoelectrons, which are significantly lower than the 8 photoelectron threshold used in previous analyses. In this unstudied few-photoelectron regime, where instrumental noise and phosphorescence are prevalent, we utilize a phenomenological background model to search for the annual modulation signal expected from the Standard Halo Model. No statistically significant annual modulation is observed in our data. We derive new 90% confidence level (C.L.) upper limits for the spin-dependent DM-proton cross section, establishing the world's most stringent constraints in the 1.75-2.25 GeV/c$^2$ mass range. Furthermore, by incorporating the Migdal effect, we extend the experimental sensitivity to the sub-GeV/c$^2$ regime, setting world-leading limits in the 15-58 MeV/c$^2$ range. These results demonstrate the capability of NaI(Tl) target materials to probe previously unexplored regions of the dark matter parameter space.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

Combined Annual Modulation Dark Matter Search with COSINE-100 and ANAIS-112

The annual modulation signal, claimed to be consistent with dark matter as observed by DAMA/LIBRA in a sodium-iodide based detector, has persisted for over two decades. COSINE-100 and ANAIS-112 were designed to test the claim directly using the same target material. COSINE-100, located at Yangyang Underground Laboratory in South Korea, and ANAIS-112, located at Canfranc Underground Laboratory in Spain, have been taking data since 2016 and 2017, respectively. Each experiment published its respective results independently. In this paper, we present the results of an annual modulation search as a test of the signal observed by DAMA/LIBRA with the first three respective years of data from COSINE-100 and ANAIS-112. Using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo method, we find best fit values for modulation amplitude of $-0.0002 {\pm} 0.0026$ cpd/kg/keV in the 1-6 keV and $0.0021 {\pm} 0.0028$ cpd/kg/keV in the 2-6 keV energy regions. These results are not compatible with DAMA/LIBRA's assertion for their observation of annual modulation at $3.7σ$ and $2.6σ$, respectively. Performing a simple combination of the newly released 6-years datasets from both experiments find values consistent with no modulation at $0.0005 {\pm} 0.0019$ cpd/kg/keV in the 1-6 keV and $0.0027 {\pm} 0.0021$ cpd/kg/keV in the 2-6 keV energy regions with $4.68σ$ and $3.53σ$ respective exclusions of the DAMA/LIBRA signal.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2024

Lowering threshold of NaI(Tl) scintillator to 0.7 keV in the COSINE-100 experiment

COSINE-100 is a direct dark matter search experiment, with the primary goal of testing the annual modulation signal observed by DAMA/LIBRA, using the same target material, NaI(Tl). In previous analyses, we achieved the same 1 keV energy threshold used in the DAMA/LIBRA's analysis that reported an annual modulation signal with 11.6$σ$ significance. In this article, we report an improved analysis that lowered the threshold to 0.7 keV, thanks to the application of Multi-Layer Perception network and a new likelihood parameter with waveforms in the frequency domain. The lower threshold would enable a better comparison of COSINE-100 with new DAMA results with a 0.75 keV threshold and account for differences in quenching factors. Furthermore the lower threshold can enhance COSINE-100's sensitivity to sub-GeV dark matter searches.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2023

Search for solar bosonic dark matter annual modulation with COSINE-100

We present results from a search for solar bosonic dark matter using the annual modulation method with the COSINE-100 experiment. The results were interpreted considering three dark sector bosons models: solar dark photon; DFSZ and KSVZ solar axion; and Kaluza-Klein solar axion. No modulation signal that is compatible with the expected from the models was found from a data-set of 2.82 yr, using 61.3 kg of NaI(Tl) crystals. Therefore, we set a 90$\%$ confidence level upper limits for each of the three models studied. For the solar dark photon model, the most stringent mixing parameter upper limit is $1.61 \times 10^{-14}$ for dark photons with a mass of 215 eV. For the DFSZ and KSVZ solar axion, and the Kaluza-Klein axion models, the upper limits exclude axion-electron couplings, $g_{ae}$, above $1.61 \times 10^{-11}$ for axion mass below 0.2 keV; and axion-photon couplings, $g_{aγγ}$, above $1.83 \times 10^{-11}$ GeV$^{-1}$ for an axion number density of $4.07 \times 10^{13}$ cm$^{-3}$. This is the first experimental search for solar dark photons and DFSZ and KSVZ solar axions using the annual modulation method. The lower background, higher light yield and reduced threshold of NaI(Tl) crystals of the future COSINE-200 experiment are expected to enhance the sensitivity of the analysis shown in this paper. We show the sensitivities for the three models studied, considering the same search method with COSINE-200.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

Three-year annual modulation search with COSINE-100

COSINE-100 is a direct detection dark matter experiment that aims to test DAMA/LIBRA's claim of dark matter discovery by searching for a dark matter-induced annual modulation signal with NaI(Tl) detectors. We present new constraints on the annual modulation signal from a dataset with a 2.82 yr livetime utilizing an active mass of 61.3 kg, for a total exposure of 173 kg$\cdot$yr. This new result features an improved event selection that allows for both lowering the energy threshold to 1 keV and a more precise time-dependent background model. In the 1-6 keV and 2-6 keV energy intervals, we observe best-fit values for the modulation amplitude of 0.0067$\pm$0.0042 and 0.0051$\pm$0.0047 counts/(day$\cdot$kg$\cdot$keV), respectively, with a phase fixed at 152.5 days.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2021

The environmental monitoring system at the COSINE-100 experiment

The COSINE-100 experiment is designed to test the DAMA experiment which claimed an observation of a dark matter signal from an annual modulation in their residual event rate. To measure the 1 %-level signal amplitude, it is crucial to control and monitor nearly all environmental quantities that might systematically mimic the signal. The environmental monitoring also helps ensure a stable operation of the experiment. Here, we describe the design and performance of the centralized environmental monitoring system for the COSINE-100 experiment.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2021

Strong constraints from COSINE-100 on the DAMA dark matter results using the same sodium iodide target

We present new constraints on dark matter interactions using 1.7 years of COSINE-100 data. The COSINE-100 experiment, consisting of 106 kg of tallium-doped sodium iodide (NaI(Tl)) target material, is aimed at testing DAMA's claim of dark matter observation using the same NaI(Tl) detectors. Improved event selection requirements, a more precise understanding of the detector background and the use of a larger data set considerably enhances the COSINE-100 sensitivity for dark matter detection. No signal consistent with the dark matter interaction is identified, and rules out model-dependent dark matter interpretations of the DAMA signals in the specific context of standard halo model with the same NaI(Tl) target for various interaction hypotheses.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2020

Measurement of the cosmic muon annual and diurnal flux variation with the COSINE-100 detector

We report measurements of annual and diurnal modulations of the cosmic-ray muon rate in the Yangyang underground laboratory (Y2L) using 952 days of COSINE-100 data acquired between September 2016 and July 2019. A correlation of the muon rate with the atmospheric temperature is observed and its amplitude on the muon rate is determined. The effective atmospheric temperature and muon rate variations are positively correlated with a measured effective temperature coefficient of $α_{T}$ = 0.80 $\pm$ 0.11. This result is consistent with a model of meson production in the atmosphere. We also searched for a diurnal modulation in the underground muon rate by comparing one-hour intervals. No significant diurnal modulation of the muon rate was observed.

physics.ins-det↗