Low-Energy Compton Scattering in Materials

Author:

Rouven Essig, Yonit Hochberg, Yutaro Shoji, Aman Singal, Gregory Suczewski

Keyword:

High Energy Physics - Phenomenology, High Energy Physics - Phenomenology (hep-ph)

journal:

date:

2023-10-02 16:00:00

Abstract

Low-energy Compton scattering is an important background for sub-GeV dark matter direct-detection and other experiments. Current Compton scattering calculations typically rely on assumptions that are not valid in the low-energy region of interest, beneath ~ 50 eV. Here we relate the low-energy Compton scattering differential cross section to the dielectric response of the material. Our new approach can be used for a wide range of materials and includes all-electron, band structure, and collective effects, which can be particularly relevant at low energies. We demonstrate the strength of our approach in several solid-state systems, in particular Si, Ge, GaAs, and SiC, which are relevant for current and proposed experiments searching for dark matter, neutrinos, and millicharged particles.

PDF: Low-Energy Compton Scattering in Materials.pdf