New dark matter direct search based on archaeological Pb

The RES-NOVA project is an experimental initiative aimed at detecting neutrinos from the next galactic supernova using PbWO4 cryogenic detectors, operated at low temperatures in a low-background environment. By utilizing archaeological lead (Pb) as the target material, RES-NOVA leverages its high radiopurity, large nuclear mass, and the natural abundance of 207Pb, making it well-suited for exploring both spin-independent and spin-dependent dark matter (DM) interactions via nuclear scattering. This work presents a background model developed for the RES-NOVA technology demonstrator and evaluates its implications for dark matter detection. Detailed calculations of nuclear matrix elements, combined with the unique properties of archaeological Pb, demonstrate RES-NOVA's potential as a complementary tool to existing direct detection experiments for studying dark matter interactions. The experiment will conduct DM searches over a broad mass range spanning 4 orders of magnitude, from sub-GeV/c2 to TeV/c2. In the most optimistic scenario of 1 y of data taking, RES-NOVA is expected to probe DM-nucleon cross sections down to 1 x 10-43 cm2 and 2 x 10-46 cm2 for candidates with masses of 2 GeV/c2 and 20 GeV/c2, respectively.