New results and perspectives of DAMA/LIBRA

Abstract

Abstract.The results obtained with the total exposure of 1.04 ton × yr collected by DAMA/LIBRA-phase1 deep underground at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS) of the I.N.F.N. during 7 annual cycles are briefly summarized. The DAMA/LIBRA-phase1 and the former DAMA/NaI data (cumulative exposure 1.33 ton × yr, corresponding to 14 annual cycles) give evidence at 9.3 σ C.L. for the presence of Dark Matter (DM) particles in the galactic halo, on the basis of the exploited model independent DM annual modulation signature by using highly radio-pure NaI(Tl) target. The modulation parameters are well in agreement with those expected for DM particles. No systematic or side reaction able to mimic the exploited DM signature has been found or suggested by anyone over more than a decade. Some of the perspectives of the presently running DAMA/LIBRA-phase2 are outlined.

Muon detector for the COSINE-100 experiment

“…A positive annual modulation signal would be a signature for dark matter due to changes in the relative motion of the Earth orbits the Sun in the galaxy cluster. Among various dark matter search experiments, the DAMA/LIBRA experiment using a NaI(Tl) crystal array [10,11,12] is extremely interesting because an annual modulation was observed, which can be interpreted as WIMP-nucleon interactions [13].…”

A novel approach to dark matter search based on nanometric emulsions

“…The amplitude of the annual modulation signals is very small (a few percent of the total event of WIMP-nucleus scattering). The results of an annual modulation observation reported by the DAMA/LIBRA [1] and the CoGeNT [2] collaborations are the only positive signatures ever reported. Although other groups have tried to confirm the these results with various types of detectors, no annual modulation signal has been observed yet (see figure 1).…”