1–5 Jun 2026
Paraninfo, University of Zaragoza
Europe/Madrid timezone

Setting limits on blazar-boosted dark matter with xenon-based detectors

Not scheduled
20m
Josefa Amar y Borbón

Josefa Amar y Borbón

Speaker

Erin Barillier (University of Zurich)

Description

Dual-phase xenon time projection chambers achieve optimal sensitivity for 10-1000 GeV dark matter in the galactic halo, but sub-GeV dark matter particles lack sufficient energy to produce nuclear recoils above detection thresholds. However, relativistic blazar jets may accelerate sub-GeV dark matter particles in their host galaxy halo to energies detectable by liquid xenon dark matter detectors. We present a comprehensive blazar-boosted dark matter analysis using data from the XENON and LZ detectors, which have achieved some of the most sensitive dark matter direct detection limits. The results are interpreted with reference to blazar TXS 0506+056, the only blazar associated with detected high-energy neutrinos, which provides evidence of hadrons within the jet. We combine astrophysical modeling of the blazar jet with several dark matter density profiles and a detailed detector response analysis using the published XENON1T likelihood and extended energy range public LZ WIMP Search 2022 data for the first time, allowing us to incorporate the spectral shape information of the signal in a coherent manner.

Main Contribution topic Direct detection
Secondary contribution topic Light Dark Matter

Authors

Prof. Björn Penning (University of Zurich) Erin Barillier (University of Zurich) Prof. Francesco Arneodo (Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences) Dr Isaac Sarnoff (Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences) Dr Knut Morå (University of Zurich) Dr Laura Manenti (University of Sydney) Dr Paolo Padovani (Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences) Dr Yongheng Xu (University of Oslo)

Presentation materials