Direct Detection of Light Self-Interacting Dark Matter via Electronic Collective Excitations

Abstract

Models of light dark matter often invoke a light mediator to facilitate interactions with the Standard Model. If sufficiently light, this mediator can induce long-range self-interactions among dark matter particles, offering a compelling resolution to small-scale structure anomalies. However, direct detection of light self-interacting dark matter (SIDM) remains challenging for conventional detectors. In this work, we investigate the sensitivity of searches for light SIDM accelerated by high-energy cosmic rays in silicon detectors. Leveraging the electronic collective excitations, we derive 90\% C.L. exclusion limits using public SENSEI and DAMIC-M ionization data. Our constraints can cover a portion of the light SIDM parameter space favored by galactic small-scale anomalies.