pith. machine review for the scientific record. sign in

arxiv: 2604.06929 · v2 · submitted 2026-04-08 · ✦ hep-ph

Recognition: no theorem link

Direct-detection constraints on inelastic dark matter with a scalar mediator

I. V. Voronchikhin , D. V. Kirpichnikov
Authors on Pith no claims yet

Pith reviewed 2026-05-10 17:31 UTC · model grok-4.3

classification ✦ hep-ph
keywords inelastic dark matterscalar mediatorleptophilic couplingsdirect detectionDM-electron scatteringxenon experimentsp-wave annihilation
0
0 comments X

The pith

Xenon experiments can constrain scalar-mediated inelastic dark matter for sub-MeV mass splittings via DM-electron scattering.

A machine-rendered reading of the paper's core claim, the machinery that carries it, and where it could break.

The paper establishes that public data from xenon detectors already limit a class of inelastic dark matter models in which a scalar particle mediates interactions only with leptons. Because the annihilation rate of the Dirac-fermion dark matter is suppressed by one power of velocity, the usual cosmological overproduction bounds loosen and the MeV-to-GeV mass window remains open. The authors compute the rates for both endothermic and exothermic spin-independent scattering off electrons and translate the measured ionization signals in XENON1T, PandaX-4T, and LZ into bounds on the mass splitting and coupling strength. A reader cares because the work shows that existing, non-dedicated detectors already test a motivated dark-matter scenario that might otherwise appear invisible to conventional nuclear-recoil searches.

Core claim

We calculate direct detection constraints on inelastic dark matter (DM) for a scalar portal scenario with leptophilic couplings. The p-wave velocity suppression of the annihilation cross section of scalar-mediated inelastic Dirac DM implies the opening of viable regions of DM parameter space in the MeV-GeV mass range. Xenon-based experiments can provide constraints on scalar-mediated inelastic fermion dark matter for sub-MeV mass splitting, via endothermic and exothermic spin-independent DM-electron scattering. To estimate the relevant constraints, we use public data from the XENON1T, PandaX-4T, and LZ liquid-xenon experiments that measure ionization electron signals.

What carries the argument

endothermic and exothermic spin-independent DM-electron scattering rates for inelastic Dirac fermions coupled through a leptophilic scalar mediator, evaluated in liquid-xenon targets

If this is right

  • P-wave suppression opens viable MeV-GeV parameter space that would otherwise be ruled out by relic density.
  • Xenon detectors already bound sub-MeV mass splittings through both energy-gain and energy-loss electron scattering.
  • Public ionization data from XENON1T, PandaX-4T, and LZ directly translate into limits on the mediator-DM coupling.
  • The same scattering kinematics apply to any leptophilic scalar portal model with small inelastic splitting.

Where Pith is reading between the lines

These are editorial extensions of the paper, not claims the author makes directly.

  • The same ionization-channel analysis could be repeated on data from other low-threshold noble-liquid or semiconductor detectors.
  • If the mediator acquires even small quark couplings, nuclear-recoil channels would become relevant and could strengthen or weaken the bounds.
  • Future runs of LZ or DARWIN with improved ionization thresholds would probe still smaller mass splittings or weaker couplings.
  • The p-wave relic-density argument may also relax constraints in related models with vector or pseudoscalar mediators.

Load-bearing premise

The scalar mediator couples exclusively to leptons and the dark matter consists of Dirac fermions whose annihilation proceeds only through p-wave channels.

What would settle it

A reanalysis of the XENON1T or LZ ionization-electron dataset that finds zero events in the kinematic window predicted for 10–100 MeV dark matter with a 0.1–1 MeV splitting would exclude the corresponding slice of coupling and mass parameter space.

Figures

Figures reproduced from arXiv: 2604.06929 by D. V. Kirpichnikov, I. V. Voronchikhin.

Figure 1
Figure 1. Figure 1: Event and background public data for XENON1T [78] PandaX-4T [79], and LZ [80] experiments. Red line corresponds to case of simulated background, black points are observed data after imposing all cuts in experi￾ments. PandaX-4T. The PandaX-4T experiment is an un￾derground direct-detection search for dark matter lo￾cated in B2 hall of the China Jinping Underground Lab￾oratory (CJPL-II) in Sichuan, China. Its… view at source ↗
Figure 2
Figure 2. Figure 2: Transferred momentum limits (11) as functions of the DM mass with the fixed deposited energy. Each color corresponds to a different value of the relative mass splitting. The dotted and solid lines denote the upper and lower limits, respectively [PITH_FULL_IMAGE:figures/full_fig_p005_2.png] view at source ↗
Figure 3
Figure 3. Figure 3: Total ionization factor and thermally averaged [PITH_FULL_IMAGE:figures/full_fig_p005_3.png] view at source ↗
Figure 4
Figure 4. Figure 4: Constraints of effective cross section as function of dark matter mass in cases of benchmark ( [PITH_FULL_IMAGE:figures/full_fig_p006_4.png] view at source ↗
Figure 5
Figure 5. Figure 5: The same as Fig [PITH_FULL_IMAGE:figures/full_fig_p007_5.png] view at source ↗
read the original abstract

We calculate direct detection constraints on inelastic dark matter (DM) for a scalar portal scenario with leptophilic couplings. The p-wave velocity suppression of the annihilation cross section of scalar-mediated inelastic Dirac DM implies the opening of viable regions of DM parameter space in the MeV-GeV mass range. Xenon-based experiments can provide a constraints on scalar-mediated inelastic fermion dark matter for sub-MeV mass splitting, via endothermic and exothermic spin-independent DM-electron scattering. To estimate the relevant constraints, we use public data from the XENON1T, PandaX-4T, and LZ liquid-xenon experiments that measure ionization electron signals.

Editorial analysis

A structured set of objections, weighed in public.

Desk editor's note, referee report, simulated authors' rebuttal, and a circularity audit. Tearing a paper down is the easy half of reading it; the pith above is the substance, this is the friction.

Referee Report

1 major / 0 minor

Summary. The manuscript calculates direct-detection constraints on inelastic Dirac fermion dark matter in a scalar portal model with leptophilic couplings. It argues that p-wave suppression of the annihilation cross section opens viable MeV-GeV parameter space, and that XENON1T, PandaX-4T, and LZ ionization data can constrain sub-MeV mass splittings via endothermic and exothermic spin-independent DM-electron scattering, using public data releases to estimate the limits.

Significance. If the limits hold after proper accounting for inelastic kinematics, the work would usefully map viable regions for scalar-mediated inelastic DM and highlight the role of electron scattering channels. The explicit use of public experimental data is a strength for reproducibility and verifiability.

major comments (1)
  1. [Abstract] Abstract: the statement that public data from XENON1T, PandaX-4T, and LZ 'measure ionization electron signals' are used 'to estimate the relevant constraints' does not address the required re-derivation of the differential rate. The inelastic minimum velocity is v_min = sqrt(2δ/μ) + (E_e + δ)/sqrt(2 m_DM E_e) (endothermic) or its exothermic counterpart, and dσ/dE_e acquires an extra kinematic factor from δ; published efficiencies and background models are derived under elastic assumptions. Without re-weighting the galactic velocity integral and spectrum, the overlap with signal regions and thresholds changes, undermining the applicability of the quoted limits.

Simulated Author's Rebuttal

1 responses · 0 unresolved

We thank the referee for their careful reading of the manuscript and for highlighting an important technical point regarding the application of public data to inelastic scattering. We address the major comment below and will revise the manuscript to improve clarity on this issue.

read point-by-point responses

  1. Referee: [Abstract] Abstract: the statement that public data from XENON1T, PandaX-4T, and LZ 'measure ionization electron signals' are used 'to estimate the relevant constraints' does not address the required re-derivation of the differential rate. The inelastic minimum velocity is v_min = sqrt(2δ/μ) + (E_e + δ)/sqrt(2 m_DM E_e) (endothermic) or its exothermic counterpart, and dσ/dE_e acquires an extra kinematic factor from δ; published efficiencies and background models are derived under elastic assumptions. Without re-weighting the galactic velocity integral and spectrum, the overlap with signal regions and thresholds changes, undermining the applicability of the quoted limits.

    Authors: We agree that the inelastic kinematics must be handled carefully and that the abstract statement is too brief to convey this. In the full calculation we use the inelastic v_min (with the exact form given by the referee for both endothermic and exothermic cases) when evaluating the velocity integral, and we include the additional kinematic factor proportional to δ in dσ/dE_e. The expected ionization-electron spectrum is computed with these modifications before folding with the experimental efficiency curves taken from the public data releases. We acknowledge that the abstract does not explicitly note this re-derivation, which could give the impression that elastic efficiencies were applied directly. In the revised manuscript we will update the abstract to state that the constraints are derived from public data after properly incorporating the inelastic kinematics into the differential rate and velocity integral. We will also add a short paragraph in the methods section that writes out the inelastic v_min and the modified dσ/dE_e to make the procedure fully transparent. revision: partial

Circularity Check

0 steps flagged

No circularity: constraints computed from external public data using model kinematics

full rationale

The paper derives direct-detection limits by folding the inelastic DM-electron scattering rate (with endothermic/exothermic kinematics and p-wave annihilation suppression) into public XENON1T/PandaX-4T/LZ ionization data. No parameter is fitted to the target dataset and then re-used as a 'prediction'; the central result is an application of the model's differential cross section and velocity integral to independent experimental efficiencies and backgrounds. No self-citation chain, ansatz smuggling, or renaming of known results is required for the load-bearing step. The derivation remains self-contained against the cited external data releases.

Axiom & Free-Parameter Ledger

3 free parameters · 2 axioms · 1 invented entities

The central claim rests on the existence of a light scalar mediator with leptophilic couplings and on the assumption that the DM is an inelastic Dirac fermion whose annihilation is p-wave suppressed; these are introduced to open viable MeV-GeV parameter space.

free parameters (3)
  • DM mass
    Scanned in the MeV-GeV range to determine viable regions
  • mass splitting delta
    Taken sub-MeV to enable endothermic/exothermic scattering
  • mediator-DM coupling
    Fitted or bounded by the xenon data
axioms (2)
  • standard math Standard model of particle physics governs electron interactions
    Used to compute DM-electron scattering rates
  • domain assumption Inelastic DM is Dirac fermion with scalar mediator
    Defines the model under study
invented entities (1)
  • scalar mediator no independent evidence
    purpose: mediates DM-lepton interactions
    Postulated new particle whose mass and couplings are free parameters

pith-pipeline@v0.9.0 · 5403 in / 1396 out tokens · 71682 ms · 2026-05-10T17:31:43.419838+00:00 · methodology

discussion (0)

Sign in with ORCID, Apple, or X to comment. Anyone can read and Pith papers without signing in.

Forward citations

Cited by 1 Pith paper

Reviewed papers in the Pith corpus that reference this work. Sorted by Pith novelty score.

  1. Prospects of boosted magnetic dipole inelastic fermion dark matter at ILC-BDX

    hep-ph 2026-04 unverdicted novelty 3.0

    ILC-BDX can probe inelastic magnetic-dipole dark matter in a relevant parameter space for relative mass splittings of 0.05 and 0.001 over 1-10 years of running with 4e21 electrons on target per year.

Reference graph

Works this paper leans on

96 extracted references · 87 canonical work pages · cited by 1 Pith paper · 3 internal anchors

  1. [1]

    The momentum transfer depends on the dark-matter velocity𝑣 𝜒 and deposited energy𝐸d as [57]: 𝑞±(𝑣) = ⃒⃒⃒𝑚𝜒𝑣𝜒 ± √︁ 𝑚2𝜒𝑣2𝜒 −2𝑚 𝜒(𝐸d +𝛿) ⃒⃒⃒ ,(7) which implies the following condition on the dark matter velocity for exothermic processes with|𝛿|< 𝐸 d and endothermic processes as: 𝑣2 𝜒 >2(𝐸 d +𝛿)/𝑚 𝜒.(8) In particular, for the up-scattering process one finds t...

  2. [2]

    Planck 2018 results. VI. Cosmological parameters

    N. Aghanimet al.(Planck), “Planck 2018 results. VI. Cosmological parameters,” Astron. Astrophys.641, A6 (2020), [Erratum: Astron.Astrophys. 652, C4 (2021)], arXiv:1807.06209 [astro-ph.CO]

    work page internal anchor Pith review Pith/arXiv arXiv 2018

  3. [3]

    A History of Dark Matter

    Gianfranco Bertone and Dan Hooper, “History of dark matter,” Rev. Mod. Phys.90, 045002 (2018), arXiv:1605.04909 [astro-ph.CO]. 9

    work page Pith review arXiv 2018

  4. [4]

    Dark Matter Search Results from a One Ton-Year Exposure of XENON1T,

    E. Aprileet al.(XENON), “Dark Matter Search Results from a One Ton-Year Exposure of XENON1T,” Phys. Rev. Lett.121, 111302 (2018), arXiv:1805.12562 [astro- ph.CO]

    work page arXiv 2018

  5. [5]

    Dark Matter Search Re- sults from the PandaX-4T Commissioning Run,

    Yue Menget al.(PandaX-4T), “Dark Matter Search Re- sults from the PandaX-4T Commissioning Run,” Phys. Rev. Lett.127, 261802 (2021), arXiv:2107.13438 [hep- ex]

    work page arXiv 2021

  6. [6]

    Aalbers et al

    J. Aalberset al.(LZ), “First Dark Matter Search Results from the LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) Experiment,” Phys. Rev. Lett.131, 041002 (2023), arXiv:2207.03764 [hep-ex]

    work page arXiv 2023

  7. [7]

    Cosmological Lower Bound on Heavy Neutrino Masses,

    Benjamin W. Lee and Steven Weinberg, “Cosmological Lower Bound on Heavy Neutrino Masses,” Phys. Rev. Lett.39, 165–168 (1977)

    1977

  8. [8]

    The Lee-Weinberg Bound Revisited,

    Edward W. Kolb and Keith A. Olive, “The Lee-Weinberg Bound Revisited,” Phys. Rev. D33, 1202 (1986), [Erra- tum: Phys.Rev.D 34, 2531 (1986)]

    1986

  9. [9]

    Krnjaic, Phys

    Gordan Krnjaic, “Probing Light Thermal Dark-Matter With a Higgs Portal Mediator,” Phys. Rev. D94, 073009 (2016), arXiv:1512.04119 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2016

  10. [10]

    Gauge singlet scalars as cold dark mat- ter,

    John McDonald, “Gauge singlet scalars as cold dark mat- ter,” Phys. Rev. D50, 3637–3649 (1994), arXiv:hep- ph/0702143

    work page arXiv 1994

  11. [11]

    The Minimal model of nonbaryonic dark matter: A Singlet scalar,

    C. P. Burgess, Maxim Pospelov, and Tonnis ter Veld- huis, “The Minimal model of nonbaryonic dark matter: A Singlet scalar,” Nucl. Phys. B619, 709–728 (2001), arXiv:hep-ph/0011335

    work page arXiv 2001

  12. [12]

    How to Find a Hidden World at the Large Hadron Collider,

    James D. Wells, “How to Find a Hidden World at the Large Hadron Collider,” , 283–298 (2008), arXiv:0803.1243 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2008

  13. [13]

    Probing hidden sectors with a muon beam: Implication of spin-0 dark matter mediators for the muon (g-2) anomaly and the validity of the Weisz¨ acker-Williams approach,

    H. Sieber, D. V. Kirpichnikov, I. V. Voronchikhin, P. Crivelli, S. N. Gninenko, M. M. Kirsanov, N. V. Kras- nikov, L. Molina-Bueno, and S. K. Sekatskii, “Probing hidden sectors with a muon beam: Implication of spin-0 dark matter mediators for the muon (g-2) anomaly and the validity of the Weisz¨ acker-Williams approach,” Phys. Rev. D108, 056018 (2023), ar...

    work page arXiv 2023

  14. [14]

    Probingpurelyinelasticscalardarkmatteracross colliders and gravitational wave observatories,

    Jinhui Guo, Jia Liu, Chenhao Peng, and Xiao-Ping Wang,“Probingpurelyinelasticscalardarkmatteracross colliders and gravitational wave observatories,” Phys. Rev. D112, 115014 (2025), arXiv:2508.13276 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2025

  15. [15]

    Probing scalar, Dirac, Majorana, and vector dark matter through a spin-0 electron-specific mediator at electron fixed- target experiments,

    I. V. Voronchikhin and D. V. Kirpichnikov, “Probing scalar, Dirac, Majorana, and vector dark matter through a spin-0 electron-specific mediator at electron fixed- target experiments,” Phys. Rev. D109, 075012 (2024), arXiv:2312.15697 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2024

  16. [16]

    Manual for SE+BSF4DM – A mi- crOMEGAs package for Sommerfeld Effect and Bound State Formation in colored Dark Sectors,

    Mathias Becker, Emanuele Copello, Julia Harz, and Martin Napetschnig, “Manual for SE+BSF4DM – A mi- crOMEGAs package for Sommerfeld Effect and Bound State Formation in colored Dark Sectors,” (2025), arXiv:2512.02155 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2025

  17. [17]

    Sommerfeld Effect and Bound State Formation for Dark Matter Models with Colored Mediators with SE+BSF4DM,

    Mathias Becker, Emanuele Copello, Julia Harz, and Martin Napetschnig, “Sommerfeld Effect and Bound State Formation for Dark Matter Models with Colored Mediators with SE+BSF4DM,” (2026), arXiv:2601.03026 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2026

  18. [18]

    Scalar-Mediated Inelastic Dark Matter as a Solution to Small-Scale Structure Anomalies

    Zihan Wang, “Scalar-Mediated Inelastic Dark Matter as a Solution to Small-Scale Structure Anomalies,” (2025), arXiv:2512.18959 [hep-ph]

    work page internal anchor Pith review Pith/arXiv arXiv 2025

  19. [19]

    Two U(1)’s and Epsilon Charge Shifts,

    Bob Holdom, “Two U(1)’s and Epsilon Charge Shifts,” Phys. Lett. B166, 196–198 (1986)

    1986

  20. [20]

    Analyzing the Discovery Potential for Light Dark Matter,

    Eder Izaguirre, Gordan Krnjaic, Philip Schuster, and Natalia Toro, “Analyzing the Discovery Potential for LightDarkMatter,” Phys.Rev.Lett.115,251301(2015), arXiv:1505.00011 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2015

  21. [21]

    Batell, R

    Brian Batell, Rouven Essig, and Ze’ev Surujon, “Strong Constraints on Sub-GeV Dark Sectors from SLAC Beam Dump E137,” Phys. Rev. Lett.113, 171802 (2014), arXiv:1406.2698 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2014

  22. [22]

    Lepton phenomenology of Stueckelberg por- tal to dark sector,

    Aliaksei Kachanovich, Sergey Kovalenko, Serguei Kuleshov, Valery E. Lyubovitskij, and Alexey S. Zhevlakov, “Lepton phenomenology of Stueckelberg por- tal to dark sector,” Phys. Rev. D105, 075004 (2022), arXiv:2111.12522 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2022

  23. [23]

    Dark𝑆𝑈(2) Stueckelberg portal,

    Valery E. Lyubovitskij, Alexey S. Zhevlakov, Aliak- sei Kachanovich, and Serguei Kuleshov, “Dark𝑆𝑈(2) Stueckelberg portal,” Phys. Rev. D107, 055006 (2023), arXiv:2210.05555 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2023

  24. [24]

    Probing light exotics from a hidden sector at c-𝜏factories with polarized electron beams,

    Dmitry Gorbunov and Dmitry Kalashnikov, “Probing light exotics from a hidden sector at c-𝜏factories with polarized electron beams,” Phys. Rev. D107, 015014 (2023), arXiv:2211.06270 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2023

  25. [25]

    Probing feebly interacting dark matter with monojet searches,

    J´ erˆ ome Claude, Ma´ ıra Dutra, and Stephen God- frey, “Probing feebly interacting dark matter with monojet searches,” Phys. Rev. D107, 075006 (2023), arXiv:2208.09422 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2023

  26. [26]

    Direct detection of cosmic ray-boosted puffy dark mat- ter,

    Wenyu Wang, Wu-Long Xu, Jin Min Yang, and Rui Zhu, “Direct detection of cosmic ray-boosted puffy dark mat- ter,” Nucl. Phys. B995, 116348 (2023), arXiv:2305.12668 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2023

  27. [27]

    Implication of the Weizsacker-Williams approximation for the dark matter mediator production,

    I. V. Voronchikhin and D. V. Kirpichnikov, “Implication of the Weizsacker-Williams approximation for the dark matter mediator production,” Phys. Rev. D111, 035034 (2025), arXiv:2409.12748 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2025

  28. [28]

    Cosmic-ray boosted inelastic dark matter from neutrino-emitting active galactic nuclei,

    R. Andrew Gustafson, Gonzalo Herrera, Mainak Mukhopadhyay, Kohta Murase, and Ian M. Shoe- maker, “Cosmic-ray boosted inelastic dark matter from neutrino-emitting active galactic nuclei,” (2025), arXiv:2508.20984 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2025

  29. [29]

    Enhanced prospects for direct detection of inelastic dark matter from a non-galactic diffuse component,

    Gonzalo Herrera, Alejandro Ibarra, and Satoshi Shirai, “Enhanced prospects for direct detection of inelastic dark matter from a non-galactic diffuse component,” JCAP 04, 026 (2023), arXiv:2301.00870 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2023

  30. [30]

    Cosmic-ray cooling in active galactic nuclei as a new probe of inelastic dark matter,

    R. Andrew Gustafson, Gonzalo Herrera, Mainak Mukhopadhyay, Kohta Murase, and Ian M. Shoemaker, “Cosmic-ray cooling in active galactic nuclei as a new probe of inelastic dark matter,” Phys. Rev. D111, L121303 (2025), arXiv:2408.08947 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2025

  31. [31]

    Gravity-mediated (or Composite) Dark Matter,

    Hyun Min Lee, Myeonghun Park, and Veronica Sanz, “Gravity-mediated (or Composite) Dark Matter,” Eur. Phys. J. C74, 2715 (2014), arXiv:1306.4107 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2014

  32. [32]

    Kang and H

    Yoo-Jin Kang and Hyun Min Lee, “Lightening Gravity- Mediated Dark Matter,” Eur. Phys. J. C80, 602 (2020), arXiv:2001.04868 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2020

  33. [33]

    Graviton-photon production with a massive spin-2 particle,

    Joshua A. Gill, Dipan Sengupta, and Anthony G. Williams, “Graviton-photon production with a massive spin-2 particle,” Phys. Rev. D108, L051702 (2023), arXiv:2303.04329 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2023

  34. [34]

    Cosmic ray boosted sub-GeV gravita- tionally interacting dark matter in direct detection,

    Wenyu Wang, Lei Wu, Jin Min Yang, Hang Zhou, and Bin Zhu, “Cosmic ray boosted sub-GeV gravita- tionally interacting dark matter in direct detection,” JHEP12, 072 (2020), [Erratum: JHEP 02, 052 (2021)], arXiv:1912.09904 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2020

  35. [35]

    Warm dark matter from a gravitational freeze-in in extra dimensions,

    Arturo de Giorgi and Stefan Vogl, “Warm dark matter from a gravitational freeze-in in extra dimensions,” JHEP 04, 032 (2023), arXiv:2208.03153 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2023

  36. [36]

    The bremsstrahlung-like production of the massive spin-2 dark matter mediator,

    I. V. Voronchikhin and D. V. Kirpichnikov, “The bremsstrahlung-like production of the massive spin-2 10 dark matter mediator,” Eur. Phys. J. C85, 1110 (2025), arXiv:2412.10150 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2025

  37. [37]

    Probing Freeze-In Dark Matter via a Spin-2 Portal at the LHC with Vector Boson Fusion and Machine Learning

    Junzhe Liu and Alfredo Gurrola, “Probing Freeze-In Dark Matter via a Spin-2 Portal at the LHC with Vector Boson Fusion and Machine Learning,” (2026), arXiv:2604.02604 [hep-ph]

    work page internal anchor Pith review Pith/arXiv arXiv 2026

  38. [38]

    Inelastic dark matter,

    David Tucker-Smith and Neal Weiner, “Inelastic dark matter,” Phys. Rev. D64, 043502 (2001), arXiv:hep- ph/0101138

    work page arXiv 2001

  39. [39]

    Final model independent result of DAMA/LIBRA-phase1,

    R. Bernabeiet al., “Final model independent result of DAMA/LIBRA-phase1,” Eur. Phys. J. C73, 2648 (2013), arXiv:1308.5109 [astro-ph.GA]

    work page arXiv 2013

  40. [40]

    De Simone, V

    Andrea De Simone, Veronica Sanz, and Hiromitsu Phil Sato, “Pseudo-Dirac Dark Matter Leaves a Trace,” Phys. Rev. Lett.105, 121802 (2010), arXiv:1004.1567 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2010

  41. [41]

    Baryakhtar, A

    Masha Baryakhtar, Asher Berlin, Hongwan Liu, and Neal Weiner, “Electromagnetic signals of inelas- tic dark matter scattering,” JHEP06, 047 (2022), arXiv:2006.13918 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2022

  42. [42]

    Cosmology and signals of light pseudo-Dirac dark matter,

    MarianaCarrilloGonz´ alezandNataliaToro,“Cosmology and signals of light pseudo-Dirac dark matter,” JHEP04, 060 (2022), arXiv:2108.13422 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2022

  43. [43]

    Testing Light Dark Matter Coan- nihilation With Fixed-Target Experiments,

    Eder Izaguirre, Yonatan Kahn, Gordan Krnjaic, and Matthew Moschella, “Testing Light Dark Matter Coan- nihilation With Fixed-Target Experiments,” Phys. Rev. D96, 055007 (2017), arXiv:1703.06881 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2017

  44. [44]

    Unlocking the inelastic Dark Matter window with vector mediators,

    Ana Luisa Foguel, Peter Reimitz, and Re- nata Zukanovich Funchal, “Unlocking the inelastic Dark Matter window with vector mediators,” JHEP05, 001 (2025), arXiv:2410.00881 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2025

  45. [45]

    Examin- ing scalar portal inelastic dark matter with lepton fixed- target experiments,

    I. V. Voronchikhin and D. V. Kirpichnikov, “Examin- ing scalar portal inelastic dark matter with lepton fixed- target experiments,” Phys. Rev. D113, 015031 (2026), arXiv:2505.04290 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2026

  46. [46]

    Missing energy signatures of inelastic magnetic dipole DM at NA64e,

    Sergei N. Gninenko, N. V. Krasnikov, I. V. Voronchikhin, and D. V. Kirpichnikov, “Missing energy signatures of inelastic magnetic dipole DM at NA64e,” (2026), arXiv:2603.28278 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2026

  47. [47]

    Inelastic Dark Matter at the LHC Lifetime Frontier: ATLAS, CMS, LHCb, CODEX-b, FASER, and MATHUSLA,

    Asher Berlin and Felix Kling, “Inelastic Dark Matter at the LHC Lifetime Frontier: ATLAS, CMS, LHCb, CODEX-b, FASER, and MATHUSLA,” Phys. Rev. D 99, 015021 (2019), arXiv:1810.01879 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2019

  48. [48]

    Looking forward to inelastic DM with electromagnetic form factors at FASER and beam dump experiments,

    Krzysztof Jod lowski, “Looking forward to inelastic DM with electromagnetic form factors at FASER and beam dump experiments,” Phys. Rev. D108, 115025 (2023), arXiv:2305.16781 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2023

  49. [49]

    Extend- ing the discovery potential for inelastic-dipole dark mat- ter with FASER,

    Keith R. Dienes, Jonathan L. Feng, Max Fieg, Fei Huang, Seung J. Lee, and Brooks Thomas, “Extend- ing the discovery potential for inelastic-dipole dark mat- ter with FASER,” Phys. Rev. D107, 115006 (2023), arXiv:2301.05252 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2023

  50. [50]

    Detectability of Certain Dark Matter Candidates,

    Mark W. Goodman and Edward Witten, “Detectability of Certain Dark Matter Candidates,” Phys. Rev. D31, 3059 (1985)

    1985

  51. [51]

    Direct Detection of WIMP Dark Mat- ter: Concepts and Status,

    Marc Schumann, “Direct Detection of WIMP Dark Mat- ter: Concepts and Status,” J. Phys. G46, 103003 (2019), arXiv:1903.03026 [astro-ph.CO]

    work page arXiv 2019

  52. [52]

    Direct Detection of Sub-GeV Dark Matter

    Rouven Essig, Jeremy Mardon, and Tomer Volansky, “Direct Detection of Sub-GeV Dark Matter,” Phys. Rev. D85, 076007 (2012), arXiv:1108.5383 [hep-ph]

    work page Pith review arXiv 2012

  53. [53]

    Essig, A

    Rouven Essig, Aaron Manalaysay, Jeremy Mardon, Peter Sorensen, and Tomer Volansky, “First Direct Detection Limits on sub-GeV Dark Matter from XENON10,” Phys. Rev. Lett.109, 021301 (2012), arXiv:1206.2644 [astro- ph.CO]

    work page arXiv 2012

  54. [54]

    New Constraints and Prospects for sub-GeV Dark Matter Scattering off Electrons in Xenon

    Rouven Essig, Tomer Volansky, and Tien-Tien Yu, “New Constraints and Prospects for sub-GeV Dark Matter Scattering off Electrons in Xenon,” Phys. Rev. D96, 043017 (2017), arXiv:1703.00910 [hep-ph]

    work page Pith review arXiv 2017

  55. [55]

    , JCAP 09 (2019) 070 [arXiv:1905.06348]. A. Prabhu and C. Blanco,\Con- straints on dark matter-electron scattering from molec- ular cloud ionization

    Timon Emken, Rouven Essig, Chris Kouvaris, and Mukul Sholapurkar, “Direct Detection of Strongly In- teracting Sub-GeV Dark Matter via Electron Recoils,” JCAP09, 070 (2019), arXiv:1905.06348 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2019

  56. [56]

    Direct Detection of sub-GeV Dark Matter with Semiconductor Targets

    Rouven Essig, Marivi Fernandez-Serra, Jeremy Mardon, AdrianSoto, TomerVolansky, andTien-TienYu,“Direct Detection of sub-GeV Dark Matter with Semiconductor Targets,” JHEP05, 046 (2016), arXiv:1509.01598 [hep- ph]

    work page Pith review arXiv 2016

  57. [57]

    Accurate electron-recoil ionization factors for dark mat- ter direct detection in xenon, krypton, and argon,

    A. R. Caddell, V. V. Flambaum, and B. M. Roberts, “Accurate electron-recoil ionization factors for dark mat- ter direct detection in xenon, krypton, and argon,” Phys. Rev. D108, 083030 (2023), arXiv:2305.05125 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2023

  58. [58]

    Harigaya, Y

    Keisuke Harigaya, Yuichiro Nakai, and Motoo Suzuki, “Inelastic Dark Matter Electron Scattering and the XENON1T Excess,” Phys. Lett. B809, 135729 (2020), arXiv:2006.11938 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2020

  59. [59]

    Lee,Exothermic dark matter for XENON1T excess,JHEP01(2021) 019 [2006.13183]

    Hyun Min Lee, “Exothermic dark matter for XENON1T excess,” JHEP01, 019 (2021), arXiv:2006.13183 [hep- ph]

    work page arXiv 2021

  60. [60]

    Dark matter-electron interactions in materials beyond the dark photon model,

    Riccardo Catena, Daniel Cole, Timon Emken, Marek Matas, Nicola Spaldin, Walter Tarantino, and Einar Urdshals, “Dark matter-electron interactions in materials beyond the dark photon model,” JCAP03, 052 (2023), arXiv:2210.07305 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2023

  61. [61]

    Search for Light Inelastic Dark Matter with Low- Energy Ionization Signatures in PandaX-4T,

    Yu-Chen Wang, Youhui Yun, Hong-Jian He, and Yue Meng, “Search for Light Inelastic Dark Matter with Low- Energy Ionization Signatures in PandaX-4T,” (2025), arXiv:2508.13062 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2025

  62. [62]

    Catena, T

    Riccardo Catena, Timon Emken, Nicola A. Spaldin, and Walter Tarantino, “Atomic responses to general dark matter-electron interactions,” Phys. Rev. Res.2, 033195 (2020), [Erratum: Phys.Rev.Res. 7, 019001 (2025)], arXiv:1912.08204 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2020

  63. [63]

    A systematic investigation on dark matter- electron scattering in effective field theories,

    Jin-Han Liang, Yi Liao, Xiao-Dong Ma, and Hao- Lin Wang, “A systematic investigation on dark matter- electron scattering in effective field theories,” JHEP07, 279 (2024), arXiv:2406.10912 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2024

  64. [64]

    Berlin, N

    Asher Berlin, Nikita Blinov, Gordan Krnjaic, Philip Schuster, and Natalia Toro, “Dark Matter, Millicharges, Axion and Scalar Particles, Gauge Bosons, and Other New Physics with LDMX,” Phys. Rev. D99, 075001 (2019), arXiv:1807.01730 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2019

  65. [65]

    Exploring leptophilic dark matter with NA64- 𝜇,

    Chien-Yi Chen, Jonathan Kozaczuk, and Yi-Ming Zhong, “Exploring leptophilic dark matter with NA64- 𝜇,” JHEP10, 154 (2018), arXiv:1807.03790 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2018

  66. [66]

    Batell, A

    Brian Batell, Ayres Freitas, Ahmed Ismail, and David Mckeen, “Flavor-specific scalar mediators,” Phys. Rev. D 98, 055026 (2018), arXiv:1712.10022 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2018

  67. [67]

    Two-component spinor techniques and Feyn- man rules for quantum field theory and supersymmetry,

    Herbi K. Dreiner, Howard E. Haber, and Stephen P. Martin, “Two-component spinor techniques and Feyn- man rules for quantum field theory and supersymmetry,” Phys.Rept.494,1–196(2010),arXiv:0812.1594[hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2010

  68. [68]

    X-rays from inelastic dark matter freeze-in,

    Gordan Krnjaic, David McKeen, Riku Mizuta, Gopolang Mohlabeng, David E. Morrissey, and Douglas Tuckler, “X-rays from inelastic dark matter freeze-in,” Phys. Rev. D112, 115039 (2025), arXiv:2509.19428 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2025

  69. [69]

    A minimalistic model for inelastic dark matter,

    Giovani Dalla Valle Garcia, “A minimalistic model for inelastic dark matter,” Phys. Lett. B862, 139320 (2025), 11 arXiv:2411.02147 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2025

  70. [70]

    Three exceptions in the calculation of relic abundances,

    Kim Griest and David Seckel, “Three exceptions in the calculation of relic abundances,” Phys. Rev. D43, 3191– 3203 (1991)

    1991

  71. [71]

    Edsjo and P

    Joakim Edsjo and Paolo Gondolo, “Neutralino relic den- sity including coannihilations,” Phys. Rev. D56, 1879– 1894 (1997), arXiv:hep-ph/9704361

    work page arXiv 1997

  72. [72]

    Testing Thermal-Relic Dark Matter with a Dark Photon Mediator,

    Gordan Krnjaic, “Testing Thermal-Relic Dark Matter withaDarkPhotonMediator,” (2025),arXiv:2505.04626 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2025

  73. [73]

    On Effective Degrees of Freedom in the Early Universe

    Lars Husdal, “On Effective Degrees of Freedom in the Early Universe,” Galaxies4, 78 (2016), arXiv:1609.04979 [astro-ph.CO]

    work page Pith review arXiv 2016

  74. [74]

    Calculations of Relic Densities in the Early Universe,

    Mark Srednicki, Richard Watkins, and Keith A. Olive, “Calculations of Relic Densities in the Early Universe,” Nucl. Phys. B310, 693 (1988)

    1988

  75. [75]

    Kolb and Michael S

    Edward W. Kolb and Michael S. Turner,The Early Uni- verse, Vol. 69 (Taylor and Francis, 2019)

    2019

  76. [76]

    CMB Constraints on WIMP Annihilation: Energy Absorption During the Recombination Epoch

    Tracy R. Slatyer, Nikhil Padmanabhan, and Douglas P. Finkbeiner, “CMB Constraints on WIMP Annihilation: Energy Absorption During the Recombination Epoch,” Phys. Rev. D80, 043526 (2009), arXiv:0906.1197 [astro- ph.CO]

    work page Pith review arXiv 2009

  77. [77]

    Berlin, G

    Asher Berlin, Gordan Krnjaic, and Elena Pinetti, “Reviving MeV-GeV indirect detection with inelas- tic dark matter,” Phys. Rev. D110, 035015 (2024), arXiv:2311.00032 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2024

  78. [78]

    Resonant pseudo-Dirac dark matter as a sub-GeV thermal target,

    Nirmalya Brahma, Saniya Heeba, and Katelin Schutz, “Resonant pseudo-Dirac dark matter as a sub-GeV thermal target,” Phys. Rev. D109, 035006 (2024), arXiv:2308.01960 [hep-ph]

    work page arXiv 2024

  79. [79]

    Aprile et al

    E. Aprileet al.(XENON), “Light Dark Matter Search with Ionization Signals in XENON1T,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 123, 251801 (2019), arXiv:1907.11485 [hep-ex]

    work page arXiv 2019

  80. [80]

    Search for Light Dark Matter with Ionization Signals in the PandaX-4T Experiment,

    Shuaijie Liet al.(PandaX), “Search for Light Dark Matter with Ionization Signals in the PandaX-4T Experiment,” Phys. Rev. Lett.130, 261001 (2023), arXiv:2212.10067 [hep-ex]

    work page arXiv 2023

Showing first 80 references.