Sub-GeV Dark Matter Direct Detection with Carbon Nanotubes

Directional detection of dark matter (DM) particles in the MeV mass range may be achieved by observing proton emissions in large arrays of parallel hydrogenated carbon nanotubes. This work investigates the scattering of light DM particles with protons in hydrogen atoms bound to carbon structures, such as graphene and carbon nanotubes. We employ Density Functional Theory (DFT) to model the electron dynamics during the scattering events that result in proton emissions and to characterize the interactions of low-energy protons with carbon nanotube structures. Our findings provide predictions for direct detection constraints within this experimental setup, offering a promising approach for low-mass DM detection.