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Z. She

Publications and source records attributed to Z. She.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Searching for $^{76}$Ge neutrinoless double beta decay with the CDEX-1B experiment

We operated a p-type point contact high purity germanium (PPCGe) detector (CDEX-1B, 1.008 kg) in the China Jinping Underground Laboratory (CJPL) for 500.3 days to search for neutrinoless double beta ($0\nu\beta\beta$) decay of $^{76}$Ge. A total of 504.3 kg$\cdot$day effective exposure data was accumulated. The anti-coincidence and the multi/single-site event (MSE/SSE) discrimination methods were used to suppress the background in the energy region of interest (ROI, 1989$-$2089 keV for this work) with a factor of 23. A background level of 0.33 counts/(keV$\cdot$kg$\cdot$yr) was realized. The lower limit on the half life of $^{76}$Ge $0\nu\beta\beta$ decay was constrained as $T_{1/2}^{0\nu}\ > \ {1.0}\times 10^{23}\ \rm yr\ (90\% \ C.L.)$, corresponding to the upper limits on the effective Majorana neutrino mass: $\langle m_{\beta\beta}\rangle < $3.2$-$7.5$\ \mathrm{eV}$.

nucl-ex

Search for boosted keV-MeV light dark matter particles from evaporating primordial black holes at the CDEX-10 experiment

We present novel constraints on boosted light dark matter particles (denoted as ``$\chi$'') from evaporating primordial black holes (PBHs) using 205.4 kg$\cdot$day data from the China Jinping Underground Laboratory's CDEX-10 p-type point contact germanium detector with a 160 eVee analysis threshold. $\chi$ from PBHs with masses ranging from 1$\times$10$^{15}$ g to 7$\times$10$^{16}$ g are searched in this work. In the presence of PBH abundance compatible with present bounds, our result excludes the $\chi$-nucleon elastic-scattering cross section region from 3.4$\times$10$^{-32}$ cm$^{2}$ to 2.3$\times$10$^{-29}$ cm$^{2}$ for $\chi$ of 1 keV to 24 MeV from PBHs with masses of 5$\times$10$^{15}$ g, as well as from 1.1$\times$10$^{-28}$ cm$^{2}$ to 7.6$\times$10$^{-28}$ cm$^{2}$ for $\chi$ of 1 keV to 0.6 MeV from PBHs with masses of 7$\times$10$^{16}$ g. If the $\chi$-nucleon elastic-scattering cross section can be determined in the future, the abundance of PBHs may be severely constrained by $\chi$ evaporation. With the lower threshold (160 eVee) of the CDEX-10 experiment compared to the previously used experiments, this work allows for a better reach at soft spectra produced by heavier PBHs, which demonstrates the vast potential of such a technical route to pursue $\chi$ from larger PBHs with a low threshold.

hep-ex

Search for exotic interactions of solar neutrinos in the CDEX-10 experiment

We investigate exotic neutrino interactions using the 205.4 kg$\cdot$day dataset from the CDEX-10 experiment at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory. New constraints on the mass and couplings of new gauge bosons are presented. Two nonstandard neutrino interactions are considered: a $U(1)_{B-L}$ gauge-boson-induced interaction between an active neutrino and electron/nucleus, and a dark-photon-induced interaction between a sterile neutrino and electron/nucleus via kinetic mixing with a photon. This work probes an unexplored parameter space involving sterile neutrino coupling with a dark photon. New laboratory limits are derived on dark photon masses below $1~{\rm eV}/c^{2}$ at some benchmark values of $\Delta m_{41}^{2}$ and $g^{\prime2}{\rm{sin}}^{2}2\theta_{14}$.

hep-ex

Exotic Dark Matter Search with CDEX-10 Experiment at China's Jinping Underground Laboratory

A search for exotic dark matter (DM) in the sub-GeV mass range has been conducted using 205 kg$\cdot$day data taken from a p-type point contact germanium detector of CDEX-10 experiment at China Jinping underground laboratory. New low-mass dark matter searching channels, neutral current fermionic DM absorption ($\chi+A\rightarrow \nu+A$) and DM-nucleus 3$\rightarrow$2 scattering ($\chi+\chi+A\rightarrow \phi+A$), have been analyzed with an energy threshold of 160 eVee. No significant signal was found. Thus new limits on the DM-nucleon interaction cross section are set for both models at sub-GeV DM mass region. A cross section limit for the fermionic DM absorption is set to be $\rm 2.5\times 10^{-46} cm^2$(90\% C.L.) at DM mass of 10 MeV/c$^2$. For the DM-nucleus 3$\rightarrow$2 scattering scenario, limits are extended to DM mass of 5 MeV/c$^2$ and 14 MeV/c$^2$ for the massless dark photon and bound DM final state, respectively.

hep-ex

Constraints on Sub-GeV Dark Matter--Electron Scattering from the CDEX-10 Experiment

We present improved germanium-based constraints on sub-GeV dark matter via dark matter--electron ($\chi$-$e$) scattering using the 205.4 kg$\cdot$day dataset from the CDEX-10 experiment. Using a novel calculation technique, we attain predicted $\chi$-$e$ scattering spectra observable in high-purity germanium detectors. In the heavy mediator scenario, our results achieve 3 orders of magnitude of improvement for $m_{\chi}$ larger than 80 MeV/c$^2$ compared to previous germanium-based $\chi$-$e$ results. We also present the most stringent $\chi$-$e$ cross-section limit to date among experiments using solid-state detectors for $m_{\chi}$ larger than 90 MeV/c$^2$ with heavy mediators and $m_{\chi}$ larger than 100 MeV/c$^2$ with electric dipole coupling. The result proves the feasibility and demonstrates the vast potential of a new $\chi$-$e$ detection method with high-purity germanium detectors in ultralow radioactive background.

hep-ex

Search for Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay of $^{76}$Ge with a Natural Broad Energy Germanium Detector

A natural broad energy germanium (BEGe) detector is operated in the China Jinping Underground Laboratory (CJPL) for a feasibility study of building the next generation experiment of the neutrinoless double-beta (0{$\nu\beta\beta$}) decay of $^{76}$Ge. The setup of the prototype facility, characteristics of the BEGe detector, background reduction methods, and data analysis are described in this paper. A background index of 6.4$\times$10$^{-3}$ counts/(keV$\cdot$kg$\cdot$day) is achieved and 1.86 times lower than our previous result of the CDEX-1 detector. No signal is observed with an exposure of 186.4 kg$\cdot$day, thus a limit on the half life of $^{76}$Ge 0$\nu\beta\beta$ decay is set at T$_{1/2}^{0\nu}$ $>$ 5.62$\times$10$^{22}$ yr at 90% C.L.. The limit corresponds to an effective Majorana neutrino mass in the range of 4.6 $\sim$ 10.3 eV, dependent on the nuclear matrix elements.

nucl-ex

Constraints on sub-GeV dark matter boosted by cosmic rays from the CDEX-10 experiment at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory

We present new constraints on light dark matter boosted by cosmic rays (CRDM) using the 205.4 kg day data of the CDEX-10 experiment conducted at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory. The Monte Carlo simulation package CJPL\_ESS was employed to evaluate the Earth shielding effect. Several key factors have been introduced and discussed in our CRDM analysis, including the contributions from heavier CR nuclei than proton and helium, the inhomogeneity of CR distribution, and the impact of the form factor in the Earth attenuation calculation. Our result excludes the dark matter--nucleon elastic scattering cross-section region from $1.7\times 10^{-30}$ to $10^{-26}~\rm cm^2$ for dark matter of 10 keV$/c^2$ to 1 GeV$/c^2$.

hep-ex

Studies of the Earth shielding effect to direct dark matter searches at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory

Dark matter direct detection experiments mostly operate at deep underground laboratories. It is necessary to consider shielding effect of the Earth, especially for dark matter particles interacting with a large cross section. We analyzed and simulated the Earth shielding effect for dark matter at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory (CJPL) with a simulation package, CJPL Earth Shielding Simulation code (CJPL\_ESS), which is applicable to other underground locations. The further constraints on the $\chi$-N cross section exclusion regions are derived based on the studies with CDEX experiment data.

hep-ex

First experimental constraints on WIMP couplings in the effective field theory framework from CDEX

We present weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) search results performed using two approaches of effective field theory from the China Dark Matter Experiment (CDEX), based on the data from both CDEX-1B and CDEX-10 stages. In the nonrelativistic effective field theory approach, both time-integrated and annual modulation analyses were used to set new limits for the coupling of WIMP-nucleon effective operators at 90% confidence level (C.L.) and improve over the current bounds in the low $m_{\chi}$ region. In the chiral effective field theory approach, data from CDEX-10 were used to set an upper limit on WIMP-pion coupling at 90% C.L. We for the first time extended the limit to the $m_{\chi}<$ 6 GeV/$c^2$ region.

hep-ex

In-situ gamma-ray background measurements for next generation CDEX experiment in the China Jinping Underground Laboratory

In-situ ${\gamma}$-ray measurements were performed using a portable high purity germanium spectrometer in Hall-C at the second phase of the China Jinping Underground Laboratory (CJPL-II) to characterise the environmental radioactivity background below 3 MeV and provide ambient ${\gamma}$-ray background parameters for next generation of China Dark Matter Experiment (CDEX). The integral count rate of the spectrum was 46.8 cps in the energy range of 60 to 2700 keV. Detection efficiencies of the spectrometer corresponding to concrete walls and surrounding air were obtained from numerical calculation and Monte Carlo simulation, respectively. The radioactivity concentrations of the walls in the Hall-C were calculated to be ${6.8\pm1.5}$ Bq/kg for ${^{238}}$U, ${5.4\pm0.6}$ Bq/kg for ${^{232}}$Th, ${81.9\pm14.4}$ Bq/kg for ${^{40}}$K. Based on the measurement results, the expected background rates from these primordial radionuclides of future CDEX experiment were simulated in unit of counts per keV per ton per year (cpkty) for the energy ranges of 2 to 4 keV and around 2 MeV. The total background level from primordial radionuclides with decay products in secular equilibrium are ${7.0 \times 10^{-2}}$ and ${3.1 \times 10^{-3}}$ cpkty for energy ranges of 2 keV to 4 keV and around 2 MeV, respectively.

physics.ins-det

Improved limits on solar axions and bosonic dark matter from the CDEX-1B experiment using the profile likelihood ratio method

We present the improved constraints on couplings of solar axions and more generic bosonic dark matter particles using 737.1 kg-days of data from the CDEX-1B experiment. The CDEX-1B experiment, located at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory, primarily aims at the direct detection of weakly interacting massive particles using a p-type point-contact germanium detector. We adopt the profile likelihood ratio method for analysis of data in the presence of backgrounds. An energy threshold of 160 eV was achieved, much better than the 475 eV of CDEX-1A with an exposure of 335.6 kg-days. This significantly improves the sensitivity for the bosonic dark matter below 0.8 keV among germanium detectors. Limits are also placed on the coupling $g_{Ae} < 2.48 \times 10^{-11}$ from Compton, bremsstrahlung, atomic-recombination and de-excitation channels and $g^{eff}_{AN} \times g_{Ae} < 4.14 \times 10^{-17}$ from a $^{57}$Fe M1 transition at 90\% confidence level.

hep-ex

Direct Detection Constraints on Dark Photons with CDEX-10 Experiment at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory

We report constraints on the dark photon effective kinetic mixing parameter (${\kappa}$) with data taken from two ${p}$-type point-contact germanium detectors of the CDEX-10 experiment at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory. The 90\% confidence level upper limits on ${\kappa}$ of solar dark photon from 205.4 kg-day exposure are derived, probing new parameter space with masses (${m_V}$) from 10 to 300 eV/${c^2}$ in direct detection experiments. Considering dark photon as the cosmological dark matter, limits at 90\% confidence level with ${m_V}$ from 0.1 to 4.0 keV/${c^2}$ are set from 449.6 kg-day data, with a minimum of ${\rm{\kappa=1.3 \times 10^{-15}}}$ at ${\rm{m_V=200\ eV/c^2}}$.

hep-ex

Constraints on Spin-Independent Nucleus Scattering with sub-GeV Weakly Interacting Massive Particle Dark Matter from the CDEX-1B Experiment at the China Jin-Ping Laboratory

We report results on the searches of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) with sub-GeV masses ($m_{\chi}$) via WIMP-nucleus spin-independent scattering with Migdal effect incorporated. Analysis on time-integrated (TI) and annual modulation (AM) effects on CDEX-1B data are performed, with 737.1 kg$\cdot$day exposure and 160 eVee threshold for TI analysis, and 1107.5 kg$\cdot$day exposure and 250 eVee threshold for AM analysis. The sensitive windows in $m_{\chi}$ are expanded by an order of magnitude to lower DM masses with Migdal effect incorporated. New limits on $\sigma_{\chi N}^{\rm SI}$ at 90\% confidence level are derived as $2\times$10$^{-32}\sim7\times$10$^{-35}$ $\rm cm^2$ for TI analysis at $m_{\chi}\sim$ 50$-$180 MeV/$c^2$, and $3\times$10$^{-32}\sim9\times$10$^{-38}$ $\rm cm^2$ for AM analysis at $m_{\chi}\sim$75 MeV/$c^2-$3.0 GeV/$c^2$.

hep-ex

Search for Light Weakly-Interacting-Massive-Particle Dark Matter by Annual Modulation Analysis with a Point-Contact Germanium Detector at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory

We present results on light weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) searches with annual modulation (AM) analysis on data from a 1-kg mass $p$-type point-contact germanium detector of the CDEX-1B experiment at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory. Datasets with a total live time of 3.2 yr within a 4.2 yr span are analyzed with analysis threshold of 250 eVee. Limits on WIMP-nucleus (${\chi}$-$N$) spin-independent cross sections as function of WIMP mass ($m_{\chi}$) at 90\% confidence level (C.L.) are derived using the dark matter halo model. Within the context of the standard halo model, the 90\% C.L. allowed regions implied by the DAMA/LIBRA and CoGeNT AM-based analysis are excluded at $>$99.99\% and 98\% C.L., respectively. These results correspond to the best sensitivity at $m_{\chi}$$<$6$~{\rm GeV}/c^2$ among WIMP AM measurements to date.

hep-ex