[W183] Probing the Dark Sector One Electron at a Time: Skipper CCDs and the DAMIC-M Experiment
Latin American Webinars on Physics
Detecting dark matter—particularly in the light mass regime—requires sensitivity to extremely faint ionization signals, potentially down to a single electron. Skipper CCDs are a new class of silicon detectors that enable this level of sensitivity by achieving sub-electron noise, thanks to their ability to perform multiple non-destructive charge measurements per pixel.
In this talk, I will introduce the operating principles and technological advances behind Skipper CCDs, contrasting them with conventional CCDs. I will then present how these sensors are used in the DAMIC-M experiment, a direct dark matter search operating at the Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane, and show recent results from its prototype phase. These results set world-leading constraints on dark matter–electron scattering for sub-MeV dark matter, probing both freeze-out and freeze-in production mechanisms in the dark sector for the first time.
Finally, I will highlight why Skipper CCDs are not just a niche detector but a transformative technology: from their applications in low-background rare-event searches to their potential to replace standard CCDs in broader scientific contexts, especially with new developments like MAS-CCDs enabling fast, multiplexed readout. Skipper CCDs are poised to reshape the landscape of precision low-energy detection.