Exploitation of the DAMIC-M Instrument at Modane – EDIM

The DAMIC-M experiment at Modane uses a novel technology for direct dark matter (DM) detection. Using thick ultra low background charged coupled devices (CCDs) with an innovative skipper read-out it achieves a resolution of a fraction of an electron and lower the detection threshold to a few eV. Such a threshold allows for low mass WIMP searches as well as dark sector investigation for diffusion of DM particles on electrons. The foreseen sensitivity is more than two orders of magnitude better than existing limits and we will explore cosmologically relevant cross-sections in a mass range from a fraction of MeV up to 10 GeV. DAMIC-M CCDs are now in production and the instrument will reach a mass of nearly 1kg using 52 CCDs. A prototype, called the Low Background Chamber, using two CCDS is installed and operated at Modane since 2022. It proved the the validity of our technological choices and allowed us to publish world leading limit in the 0.5 MeV to 1 GeV mass range for DM diffusion on electrons (Phys. Rev. Lett. 130, 171003; 2023).

From 2018 until mid-2024 the DAMIC-M instrument was developed on ERC funds. with the end of the grant the French group will loose its leading role in this experiment while the data taking will start at the end of 2024. This project aims at maintaining our leadership and at allowing young researcher to participate in the scientific exploitation of this novel instrument which promesses to produce in the coming years world leading results in the search for DM particle.