First Dark Matter Constraints from a SuperCDMS Single-Charge Sensitive Detector

We present the first limits on inelastic electron-scattering dark matter and dark photon absorption using a prototype SuperCDMS detector having a charge resolution of 0.1 electron-hole pairs (CDMS HVeV, a 0.93 gram CDMS HV device). These electron-recoil limits significantly improve experimental constraints on dark matter particles with masses as low as 1 MeV/

\mathrm{c^2}

. We demonstrate a sensitivity to dark photons competitive with other leading approaches but using substantially less exposure (0.49 gram days). These results demonstrate the scientific potential of phonon-mediated semiconductor detectors that are sensitive to single electronic excitations.

Note:

6 pages + title and references, 6 figures, includes erratum submitted to PRL and data release •
Submitted to Phys.Rev.Lett.

photon: absorption
dark matter: absorption
WIMP: dark matter
photon: hidden sector
charge: resolution
CDMS
dark matter: mass
electron: recoil
semiconductor detector
excited state

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