scholarly journals Recommended conventions for reporting results from direct dark matter searches

2021 ◽  
Vol 81 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Baxter ◽  
I. M. Bloch ◽  
E. Bodnia ◽  
X. Chen ◽  
J. Conrad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dark Matter ◽  
Direct Detection ◽  
Profile Likelihood ◽  
Large Degree ◽  
Ratio Method ◽  
Statistical Inferences ◽  
Standard Set ◽  
Neutrino Fluxes ◽  
Published Result ◽  
Matter Detection

AbstractThe field of dark matter detection is a highly visible and highly competitive one. In this paper, we propose recommendations for presenting dark matter direct detection results particularly suited for weak-scale dark matter searches, although we believe the spirit of the recommendations can apply more broadly to searches for other dark matter candidates, such as very light dark matter or axions. To translate experimental data into a final published result, direct detection collaborations must make a series of choices in their analysis, ranging from how to model astrophysical parameters to how to make statistical inferences based on observed data. While many collaborations follow a standard set of recommendations in some areas, for example the expected flux of dark matter particles (to a large degree based on a paper from Lewin and Smith in 1995), in other areas, particularly in statistical inference, they have taken different approaches, often from result to result by the same collaboration. We set out a number of recommendations on how to apply the now commonly used Profile Likelihood Ratio method to direct detection data. In addition, updated recommendations for the Standard Halo Model astrophysical parameters and relevant neutrino fluxes are provided. The authors of this note include members of the DAMIC, DarkSide, DARWIN, DEAP, LZ, NEWS-G, PandaX, PICO, SBC, SENSEI, SuperCDMS, and XENON collaborations, and these collaborations provided input to the recommendations laid out here. Wide-spread adoption of these recommendations will make it easier to compare and combine future dark matter results.

scholarly journals Sensitivity of direct detection experiments to neutrino magnetic dipole moments

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Aristizabal Sierra ◽  
R. Branada ◽  
O. G. Miranda ◽  
G. Sanchez Garcia
Keyword(s):  
Dark Matter ◽  
Magnetic Dipole ◽  
Direct Detection ◽  
Dipole Moments ◽  
Nuclear Recoil ◽  
Active Volume ◽  
Electron Recoil ◽  
Flux Measurements ◽  
Neutrino Fluxes ◽  
One Year

Abstract With large active volume sizes dark matter direct detection experiments are sensitive to solar neutrino fluxes. Nuclear recoil signals are induced by 8B neutrinos, while electron recoils are mainly generated by the pp flux. Measurements of both processes offer an opportunity to test neutrino properties at low thresholds with fairly low backgrounds. In this paper we study the sensitivity of these experiments to neutrino magnetic dipole moments assuming 1, 10 and 40 tonne active volumes (representative of XENON1T, XENONnT and DARWIN), 0.3 keV and 1 keV thresholds. We show that with nuclear recoil measurements alone a 40 tonne detector could be as competitive as Borexino, TEXONO and GEMMA, with sensitivities of order 8.0 × 10−11μB at the 90% CL after one year of data taking. Electron recoil measurements will increase sensitivities way below these values allowing to test regions not excluded by astrophysical arguments. Using electron recoil data and depending on performance, the same detector will be able to explore values down to 4.0 × 10−12μB at the 90% CL in one year of data taking. By assuming a 200-tonne liquid xenon detector operating during 10 years, we conclude that sensitivities in this type of detectors will be of order 10−12μB. Reducing statistical uncertainties may enable improving sensitivities below these values.

scholarly journals A Review of Basic Energy Reconstruction Techniques in Liquid Xenon and Argon Detectors for Dark Matter and Neutrino Physics Using NEST

Instruments ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 13
Author(s):  
Matthew Szydagis ◽  
Grant A. Block ◽  
Collin Farquhar ◽  
Alexander J. Flesher ◽  
Ekaterina S. Kozlova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dark Matter ◽  
Neutrino Physics ◽  
Electric Fields ◽  
Direct Detection ◽  
Profile Likelihood ◽  
Liquid Argon ◽  
Energy Scale ◽  
Liquid Xenon ◽  
Nuclear Recoils ◽  
Available Information

Detectors based upon the noble elements, especially liquid xenon as well as liquid argon, as both single- and dual-phase types, require reconstruction of the energies of interacting particles, both in the field of direct detection of dark matter (weakly interacting massive particles WIMPs, axions, etc.) and in neutrino physics. Experimentalists, as well as theorists who reanalyze/reinterpret experimental data, have used a few different techniques over the past few decades. In this paper, we review techniques based on solely the primary scintillation channel, the ionization or secondary channel available at non-zero drift electric fields, and combined techniques that include a simple linear combination and weighted averages, with a brief discussion of the application of profile likelihood, maximum likelihood, and machine learning. Comparing results for electron recoils (beta and gamma interactions) and nuclear recoils (primarily from neutrons) from the Noble Element Simulation Technique (NEST) simulation to available data, we confirm that combining all available information generates higher-precision means, lower widths (energy resolution), and more symmetric shapes (approximately Gaussian) especially at keV-scale energies, with the symmetry even greater when thresholding is addressed. Near thresholds, bias from upward fluctuations matters. For MeV-GeV scales, if only one channel is utilized, an ionization-only-based energy scale outperforms scintillation; channel combination remains beneficial. We discuss here what major collaborations use.

Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) Releases New Results on Dark Matter Detection

2015 ◽  
Vol 04 (01) ◽  
pp. 28-30
Author(s):  
Yuan-Hann Chang
Keyword(s):  
Dark Matter ◽  
Direct Detection ◽  
Magnetic Spectrometer ◽  
Gravitational Effects ◽  
Dark Matter Detection ◽  
The Universe ◽  
Matter Detection ◽  
Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer

It is known that the majority (about 80%) of the matter in the universe is not visible, but rather a hypothetical "Dark Matter". The existence of Dark Matter has been postulated to explain the discrepancies between the estimated mass of visible matters in the galaxies, and their gravitational effects. Although it has been postulated for over 70 years, and has been commonly accepted by most scientists, the essence of the Dark Matter has not yet been understood. In particular, we still do not know what constitutes the Dark Matter. Direct detection of the Dark Matter is therefore one of the most important issues in physics.

Halo-independent analysis of direct dark matter detection through electron scattering

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (12) ◽  
pp. 048
Author(s):  
Muping Chen ◽  
Graciela B. Gelmini ◽  
Volodymyr Takhistov
Keyword(s):  
Dark Matter ◽  
Direct Detection ◽  
Dark Matter Halo ◽  
Dark Halo ◽  
Sufficient Energy ◽  
Independent Analysis ◽  
Dark Matter Detection ◽  
Dark Matter Scattering ◽  
Matter Detection ◽  
Direct Dark Matter

Abstract Sub-GeV mass dark matter particles whose collisions with nuclei would not deposit sufficient energy to be detected, could instead be revealed through their interaction with electrons. Analyses of data from direct detection experiments usually require assuming a local dark matter halo velocity distribution. In the halo-independent analysis method, properties of this distribution are instead inferred from direct dark matter detection data, which allows then to compare different data without making any assumption on the uncertain local dark halo characteristics. This method has so far been developed for and applied to dark matter scattering off nuclei. Here we demonstrate how this analysis can be applied to scattering off electrons.

scholarly journals DARK MATTER DETECTION IN THE LIGHT OF RECENT EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

2004 ◽  
Vol 19 (19) ◽  
pp. 3093-3169 ◽  
Author(s):  
CARLOS MUÑOZ
Keyword(s):  
Dark Matter ◽  
Direct Detection ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Weakly Interacting Massive Particles ◽  
The Standard Model ◽  
The World ◽  
Nuclear Recoils ◽  
M Theory ◽  
The Universe ◽  
Matter Detection

The existence of dark matter was suggested, using simple gravitational arguments, seventy years ago. Although we are now convinced that most of the mass in the Universe is indeed some nonluminous matter, we still do not know its composition. The problem of the dark matter in the Universe is reviewed here. Particle candidates for dark matter are discussed with particular emphasis on Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMP's). Experiments searching for these relic particles, carried out by many groups around the world, are also reviewed, paying special attention to their direct detection by observing the elastic scattering on target nuclei through nuclear recoils. Finally, we concentrate on the theoretical models predicting WIMP's, and in particular on supersymmetric extensions of the standard model, where the leading candidate for WIMP, the neutralino, is present. There, we compute the cross-section for the direct detection of neutralinos, and compare it with the sensitivity of detectors. We mainly discuss supergravity, superstring and M theory scenarios.

WIMP event rates in directional experiments: The diurnal variation signature

Open Physics ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
John Vergados ◽  
Charalampos Moustakidis
Keyword(s):  
Dark Matter ◽  
Diurnal Variation ◽  
Cold Dark Matter ◽  
Vacuum Energy ◽  
Direct Detection ◽  
Weakly Interacting Massive Particles ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Event Rates ◽  
Matter Detection ◽  
Direct Dark Matter

AbstractThe 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.

scholarly journals EXTRACTING DARK MATTER PROPERTIES MODEL-INDEPENDENTLY FROM DIRECT DETECTION EXPERIMENTS

2010 ◽  
Vol 25 (11n12) ◽  
pp. 951-961 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHUNG-LIN SHAN
Keyword(s):  
Dark Matter ◽  
Cross Sections ◽  
Direct Detection ◽  
Velocity Distribution Function ◽  
Weakly Interacting Massive Particles ◽  
Model Independent ◽  
Review Model ◽  
Detector Materials ◽  
Matter Detection ◽  
Direct Dark Matter

In this article I review model-independent procedures for extracting properties of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) from direct Dark Matter detection experiments. Neither prior knowledge about the velocity distribution function of halo Dark Matter particles nor about their mass or cross sections on target nucleus is needed. The unique required information is measured recoil energies from experiments with different detector materials.

scholarly journals EFFECTS OF RESIDUE BACKGROUND EVENTS IN DIRECT DETECTION EXPERIMENTS ON IDENTIFYING WIMP DARK MATTER

2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (08) ◽  
pp. 1453-1461 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHUNG-LIN SHAN
Keyword(s):  
Dark Matter ◽  
Direct Detection ◽  
Weakly Interacting Massive Particles ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Model Independent ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Background Events ◽  
Matter Detection ◽  
Direct Dark Matter

We reexamine the model-independent data analysis methods for extracting properties of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) by using data (measured recoil energies) from direct Dark Matter detection experiments directly and, as a more realistic study, consider a small fraction of residue background events, which pass all discrimination criteria and then mix with other real WIMP-induced signals in the analyzed data sets. In this talk, the effects of residue backgrounds on the determination of the WIMP mass as well as the spin-independent WIMP coupling on nucleons will be discussed.

scholarly journals DIRECT DETECTION OF SUPERSYMMETRIC DARK MATTER: THEORETICAL RATES FOR TRANSITIONS TO EXCITED STATES

2005 ◽  
Vol 14 (05) ◽  
pp. 751-762 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. VERGADOS ◽  
P. QUENTIN ◽  
D. STROTTMAN
Keyword(s):  
Dark Matter ◽  
Excited State ◽  
Excited States ◽  
Particle Physics ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Direct Detection ◽  
Supersymmetric Particle ◽  
Dark Matter Candidate ◽  
Matter Detection ◽  
Direct Dark Matter

The recent WMAP data have confirmed that exotic dark matter together with the vacuum energy (cosmological constant) dominate in the flat universe. Supersymmetry provides a natural dark matter candidate, the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP). Thus direct dark matter detection is central to particle physics and cosmology. Most of the research on this issue has hitherto focused on the detection of the recoiling nucleus. In this paper, we study transitions to the excited states, focusing on the first excited state at 50 keV of Iodine A=127. We find that the transition rate to this excited state is ≼10 percent of the transition to the ground state. So, in principle, the extra signature of the gamma ray following its de-excitation can be exploited experimentally.

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