Solar reflection of light dark matter with heavy mediators

Understand

The direct detection of sub-GeV dark matter particles is hampered by their low energy deposits.

• If the maximum deposit allowed by kinematics falls below the energy threshold of a direct detection experiment, it is unable to detect these light particles.
• Mechanisms that boost particles from the galactic halo can therefore extend the sensitivity of terrestrial direct dark matter searches to lower masses.
• Sub-GeV and sub-MeV dark matter particles can be efficiently accelerated by colliding with thermal nuclei and electrons of the solar plasma respectively.