Ústav technické a experimentální fyziky Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics

Search for deexcitations of 178m2Hf isomer induced by inelastic Dark Matter candidates in ultra-low-background conditions

NázevTitle
Search for deexcitations of 178m2Hf isomer induced by inelastic Dark Matter candidates in ultra-low-background conditionsSearch for deexcitations of 178m2Hf isomer induced by inelastic Dark Matter candidates in ultra-low-background conditions
Druh výsledkuResult type
Článek v časopiseJournal article
AutořiAuthors
P. Belli, R. Bernabei, F. Cappella, V. Caracciolo, F.A. Danevich, V. Tretyak
DOIDOI
10.1016/j.dark.2025.102113
Časopis / citaceJournal / citation
Physics of the Dark Universe. 2025, 50 1-15. ISSN 2212-6864.
RokYear
2025
JazykLanguage
eng
WoSWoS
001592347700001
ScopusScopus
2-s2.0-105018017946
RIVRIV
RIV/68407700:21670/25:00389768!RIV26-MSM-21670___
ProjektProject
Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane - účast ČRLaboratoire Souterrain de Modane – participation of the Czech Republic; LSM-CZ III - Podzemní laboratoř LSM - účast České republiky - LM2023063 (2023–2026)LSM-CZ III - Podzemní laboratoř LSM - účast České republiky - LM2023063 (2023–2026)

AbstraktAbstract

The gamma-ray radiation from a 178m2Hf source with an activity of approximate to 63 Bq was measured for the first time with two ultra-low-background HPGe gamma spectrometers over cumulative 1170 h deep underground at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS) of the INFN. The aim of the measurements was the search for deexcitations of the 178m2Hf isomer induced by inelastic Dark Matter candidates. The process would lead to gamma-ray emission from the excited levels of the 178Hf that are not populated in the spontaneous decay of the 178m2Hf. In this way improved limits on the half-life of eighteen inelastic-dark-matter-induced transitions, at the level of lim T1/2 similar to 4 x 105-6 x 106 yr are derived. The parameters' space of such inelastic candidates is also derived for some given model assumptions. Elements towards progress in sensitivity are briefly mentioned.

The gamma-ray radiation from a 178m2Hf source with an activity of approximate to 63 Bq was measured for the first time with two ultra-low-background HPGe gamma spectrometers over cumulative 1170 h deep underground at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS) of the INFN. The aim of the measurements was the search for deexcitations of the 178m2Hf isomer induced by inelastic Dark Matter candidates. The process would lead to gamma-ray emission from the excited levels of the 178Hf that are not populated in the spontaneous decay of the 178m2Hf. In this way improved limits on the half-life of eighteen inelastic-dark-matter-induced transitions, at the level of lim T1/2 similar to 4 x 105-6 x 106 yr are derived. The parameters' space of such inelastic candidates is also derived for some given model assumptions. Elements towards progress in sensitivity are briefly mentioned.