First Direct Detection Constraints on Planck-Scale Mass Dark Matter with Multiple-Scatter Signatures Using the DEAP-3600 Detector

Dark matter with Planck-scale mass (similar or equal to 10(19) GeV/c(2)) arises in well-motivated theories and could be produced by several cosmological mechanisms. A search for multiscatter signals from supermassive dark matter was performed with a blind analysis of data collected over a 813 d live time with DEAP-3600, a 3.3 t single-phase liquid argon-based detector at SNOLAB. No candidate signals were observed, leading to the first direct detection constraints on Planck-scale mass dark matter. Leading limits constrain dark matter masses between 8.3 x 10(6) and 1.2 x 10(19) GeV/c(2), and Ar-10-scattering cross sections between 1.0 x 10(-23) and 2.4 x 10(-18) cm(2). These results are interpreted as constraints on composite dark matter models with two different nucleon-to-nuclear cross section scalings.

Automated summary

Analysis of data collected with DEAP-3600 did not detect signals of supermassive dark matter, setting the first direct detection constraints on Planck-scale mass dark matter. These results constrain dark matter masses and Ar-10-scattering cross sections within certain ranges.