Constraining dark matter models with a light mediator from the CDEX-10 experiment at China Jinping Underground Laboratory

Abstract

We search for nuclear recoil signals of dark matter (DM) models with a light mediator using data taken from a p-type point-contact germanium detector of the CDEX-10 experiment at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory. The 90% confidence level upper limits on the DM-nucleon interaction cross section from 205.4 kg-day exposure data are derived, excluding the new parameter space in 2-3 GeV DM mass when the mediator mass is comparable to or lower than the typical momentum transfer. We further interpret our results to constrain a specific self-interacting DM model with a light mediator coupling to the photon through kinetic mixing and set experimental limits on the model parameter region favored by astrophysical observations. © 2025 Institute of Physics. All rights reserved.