Accurate modeling of dark matter – electron interactions in liquid xenon and argon

Research Project, 2024 – 2028

Our project aims to model interactions between the hypothetical dark matter particles in our galaxy and the electrons bound to liquid xenon (Xe) and liquid argon (Ar) detectors. Our work is motivated by the huge global experimental effort to detect dark matter particles through their interactions with the electronic subsystems of liquid Xe and Ar in low-background deep underground detectors. Key to the interpretation of these searches is the response of the detector material to dark matter-electron interactions. The development and application of methodologies for calculating such responses for liquid Xe and Ar is the subject of our proposal. Specifically, we will develop a formalism that combines advanced calculations of electronic properties in liquid Ar and Xe with a comprehensive theoretical framework describing dark matter-electron interactions based on effective field theory. We will then apply our formalism to interpret results from leading dark matter experiments.