Search for low-mass dark matter with the DAMIC experiment

Abstract

The DAMIC (Dark Matter in CCDs) experiment searches for the interactions of dark matter particles with the nuclei and the electrons in the silicon bulk of thick fully depleted charge-coupled devices (CCDs). Because of the low noise and low dark current, DAMIC CCDs are sensitive to the ionization signals expected from low-mass dark matter particles ($< 10$ GeV). A 40-gram target detector has collected data at the SNOLAB underground laboratory since 2017. Recent results from the searches for DM-electron scattering and hidden-photon absorption will be summarized and the status of WIMPs-nucleon search reported. A new detector -- DAMIC-M (DAMIC at Modane) -- with a mass-size of 1 kg and improved CCD readout is under design and will be installed at the underground laboratory of Modane, in France. The current status of DAMIC-M and the near future plans will be presented.