Generalized Analysis of Weakly-Interacting Massive Particle Searches
Andriy Kurylov, Marc Kamionkowski
TL;DR
The paper investigates whether DAMA's annual modulation can be reconciled with null results from other direct-detection experiments within a generalized five-parameter WIMP-nucleon framework. It demonstrates that in the non-relativistic limit only spin-independent and spin-dependent couplings survive, parameterized by $m_\u001chi$, $f_p$, $f_n$, $a_p$, and $a_n$, and then scans this space against multiple datasets. The analysis finds regions compatible with all data, but these regions are difficult to realize in the minimal supersymmetric standard model and are further constrained by solar-neutrino searches. Pure spin-independent scenarios are largely ruled out except near $m_\u001chi \approx 50$ GeV with $-0.77 \le f_n/f_p \le -0.75$, while spin-dependent cases cap $m_\u001chi$ at about 18 GeV and remain subject to neutrino-constraint tensions.
Abstract
We perform a generalized analysis of data from WIMP search experiments for point-like WIMPs of arbitrary spin and general Lorenz-invariant WIMP-nucleus interaction. We show that in the non-relativistic limit only spin-independent (SI) and spin-dependent (SD) WIMP-nucleon interactions survive, which can be parameterized by only five independent parameters. We explore this five-dimensional parameter space to determine whether the annual modulation observed in the DAMA experiment can be consistent with all other experiments. The pure SI interaction is ruled out except for very small region of parameter space with the WIMP mass close to 50 GeV and the ratio of the WIMP-neutron to WIMP-proton SI couplings $-0.77\le f_n/f_p\le -0.75$. For the predominantly SD interaction, we find an upper limit to the WIMP mass of about 18 GeV, which can only be weakened if the constraint stemming from null searches for energetic neutrinos from WIMP annihilation the Sun is evaded. None of the regions of the parameter space that can reconcile all WIMP search results can be easily accommodated in the minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model.