Theoretical directional and modulated rates for direct supersymmetric dark matter detection

Advances in High Energy Physics

Moustakidis

Cheung

et al. 2018

Self Cite

In the present work we examine the possibility of detecting electrons in light dark matter searches. These detectors are considered to be the most appropriate for detecting dark matter particles with a mass in the MeV region. We analyze theoretically some key issues involved in such detection. More specifically we consider a particle model involving WIMPs interacting with fermions via -exchange. We find that for WIMPs with mass in the electron mass range the cross section for WIMP-atomic electron scattering is affected by the electron binding. For WIMPs more than 20 times heavier than the electron, the binding affects the kinematics very little. As a result, many electrons can be ejected with energy which increases linearly with the WIMP mass, but the cross section is somewhat reduced depending on the bound state wave function employed. On the other hand for lighter WIMPs, the effect of binding is dramatic. More specifically at most 10 electrons, namely, those with binding energy below 10 eV, become available even in the case of WIMPs with a mass as large as 20 times the electron mass. Even fewer electrons contribute if the WIMPs are lighter. The cross section is, however, substantially enhanced by the Fermi function corrections, which become more important at low energies of the outgoing electrons. Thus events of 0.5-2.5 per kg-y become possible.

Section: The Effect Of the Bound Electron Wave Functionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Light WIMP Searches Involving Electron Scattering

Advances in High Energy Physics

Moustakidis

Cheung

et al. 2018

Self Cite

“…In our previous work [56][57][58] we have found that the observed directional rate is characterized by a strong dependence on the angle between the direction of nuclear recoil and the direction of the sun's motion with respect to the center of the galaxy. The apparatus will, of course, be oriented in a direction defined in the local frame, i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…So our results apply to all WIMPs. In light of this possibility we will like to explore, which characteristics, if any, of the previous results [56][57][58] persist as a diurnal variation and perhaps predict new signatures. We will see that, to fully exploit the advantages offered by the directional experiments, the detectors should be able to distinguish the head from the tail of the track, i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…The theoretical analysis of these papers is very useful to experiments and, in particular, the statistical analysis given by Morgan and Green [49]. In another set of calculations [56][57][58] the inclusion of the nuclear form factor was found to be important, especially in the case of relatively heavy targets. In addition they showed that the modulation effect in directional experiments exhibits two very interesting patterns i) its magnitude in certain directions can be very large, and ii) the location of the maximum and minimum depends on the direction of observation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

WIMP event rates in directional experiments: The diurnal variation signature

Moustakidis

2011

Open Physics

Abstract:The recent WMAP data have confirmed that exotic dark matter together with the vacuum energy (cosmological constant) dominate in the flat Universe. Modern particle theories provide viable cold dark matter candidates with masses in the GeV-TeV region. All such candidates will be called WIMPs (Weakly Interacting Massive Particles). The nature of dark matter can only be unraveled by its direct detection in the laboratory. In this work we present some theoretical elements relevant to the direct dark matter detection experiments, paying particular attention to directional experiments, i.e. experiments in which not only the energy but the direction of the recoiling nucleus is observed. Since the direction of observation is fixed with respect to the Earth, while the Earth is rotating around its axis, in a directional experiment the angle between the direction of observation and the Sun's direction of motion will change during the day. So, since the event rates sensitively depend on this angle, the observed signal in such experiments will exhibit very interesting and characteristic periodic diurnal variation. PACS

“…Additional theoretical tools are the structure of the nucleus, see e.g. [27][28][29][30], and the nuclear matrix elements [31][32][33][34][35]. This paper will focus on the spin dependent WIMP nucleus interaction.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inelastic WIMP-nucleus scattering to the first excited state in¹²⁵Te

J. Phys. G: Nucl. Part. Phys.

Avignone

Kortelainen

et al. 2016

The direct detection of dark matter constituents, in particular the weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), is considered central to particle physics and cosmology. In this paper we study transitions to the excited states, possible in some nuclei, which have sufficiently low lying excited states. Examples considered previously were the first excited states of 127 I and 129 Xe and 83 Kr. Here we examine 125 Te, which offers some advantages and is currently being considered as a target. In all these cases the extra signature of the gamma rays following the de-excitation of these states has definite advantages over the purely nuclear recoil and, in principle, such a signature can be exploited experimentally. A brief discussion of the experimental feasibility is given in the context of the CUORE experiment.