Probing sub-GeV dark matter with the Migdal effect at JUNO

We discuss the sensitivity of the JUNO neutrino detector to the Migdal ionization signal triggered by nuclear scattering events produced by sub-GeV weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs). Exploiting JUNO's large target mass and the annual modulation effect we find that the aggregate rate from many independent and indistinguishable WIMP events in JUNO's liquid scintillator can be isolated from the total dark rate of the photomultipliers, potentially providing for spin-dependent interactions a world-leading sensitivity across the sub-GeV mass range.

Authors

Publication Details

Journal
Physical review. D/Physical review. D.
Published
2026-11-09
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1103/rv36-hrzg
Primary Topic
Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Probing sub-GeV dark matter with the Migdal effect at JUNO

Gaurav Tomar, S. Scopel
1 links
Physical review. D/Physical review. D.
Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena
article

Probing sub-GeV dark matter with the Migdal effect at JUNO

Gaurav Tomar, S. Scopel
article en

Abstract

We discuss the sensitivity of the JUNO neutrino detector to the Migdal ionization signal triggered by nuclear scattering events produced by sub-GeV weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs). Exploiting JUNO's large target mass and the annual modulation effect we find that the aggregate rate from many independent and indistinguishable WIMP events in JUNO's liquid scintillator can be isolated from the total dark rate of the photomultipliers, potentially providing for spin-dependent interactions a world-leading sensitivity across the sub-GeV mass range.

Physical review. D/Physical review. D.
National Research Foundation, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Sogang University, National Research Foundation of Korea, Technische Universität München, Ministry of Science and ICT, South Korea
Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena
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