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February 2, 20260 citationsOpen Access

First Sub-MeV Dark Matter Search with the QROCODILE Experiment Using Superconducting Nanowire Single-Photon Detectors

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LBLaura BaudisABAlexander H. BismarkNBNoah Brugger

Key Points

  • The aim is to explore interactions of sub-MeV dark matter particles using advanced photon detection techniques.
  • Utilized superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors as both target and sensor
  • Achieved sensitivity to energy deposits as low as 0.11 eV
  • Employed thin-layer geometry to achieve directional sensitivity
  • Leveraged phonon and quasiparticle coupling for simultaneous interaction constraints with electrons and nucleons
  • Established new world-leading constraints on dark matter interactions for particles with masses as low as 30 keV
  • Demonstrated anisotropic interaction rates due to experimental configuration
  • Outlined potential for improvements in energy threshold and effective volume in future experiments

Abstract

We present the first results from the (QROCODILE). The QROCODILE experiment uses a microwire-based superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SNSPD) as a target and sensor for dark matter scattering and absorption, and is sensitive to energy deposits as low as 0.11 eV. We introduce the experimental configuration and report new world-leading constraints on the interactions of sub-MeV dark matter particles with masses as low as 30 keV. The thin-layer geometry of the system provides anisotropy in the interaction rate, enabling directional sensitivity. In addition, we leverage the coupling between phonons and quasiparticles in the detector to simultaneously constrain interactions with both electrons and nucleons. We discuss the potential for improvements to both the energy threshold and effective volume of the experiment in the coming years.

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Cite This Study

Baudis et al. (2025) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6980fd81c1c9540dea80f482https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-283325
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