Denys Wilkinson Building, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Keble Road, Oxford OX1 3RH
Dr Kimberly Palladino, University of Oxford
Abstract
Abundant astrophysical evidence supports dark matter's existence, yet its nature remains unknown. The LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiment at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in South Dakota is the world's most sensitive detector for a wide range of dark matter particle masses. This talk contextualizes LZ within the global search, highlighting its recent observation of a single event that deviates from background models and aligns with a dark matter model favoring high-energy nuclear recoils. We will outline ongoing efforts to test this signal using additional data from LZ and complimentary experiments, including DarkSide-20k in Italy and the proposed XLZD project at the UK's Boulby Underground Laboratory.