Using the energy spectrum measured by DAMA/LIBRA to probe light dark matter

Spencer Chang, Aaron Pierce, Neal Weiner

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    A weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) weighing only a few GeV has been invoked as an explanation for the signal from the DAMA/LIBRA experiment. We show that the data from DAMA/LIBRA are now powerful enough to strongly constrain the properties of any putative WIMP. Accounting for the detailed recoil spectrum, a light WIMP with a Maxwellian velocity distribution and a spin-independent interaction cannot account for the data. Even neglecting the spectrum, significant parameter space is excluded by a limit that can be derived from the DAMA unmodulated signal at low energies. Appreciable modification to the astrophysics or particle physics can open light mass windows.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Article number115011
    JournalPhysical Review D - Particles, Fields, Gravitation and Cosmology
    Volume79
    Issue number11
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Jun 15 2009

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Nuclear and High Energy Physics
    • Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)

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