Direct Search for Dark Matter - Striking the Balance - and the Future

TL;DR

This review discusses methods and recent improvements in direct detection of WIMP dark matter, emphasizing the importance of clear signatures and advanced analysis techniques to enhance experimental sensitivity.

Contribution

It introduces a mixed spin-scalar coupling approach and a new background subtraction procedure to improve WIMP detection sensitivity.

Findings

Enhanced exclusion curves using mixed coupling approach.

Demonstrated sensitivity improvements with background subtraction.

Highlighted the need for clear detection signatures.

Abstract

Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) are among the main candidates for the relic dark matter (DM). The idea of the direct DM detection relies on elastic spin-dependent (SD) and spin-independent (SI) interaction of WIMPs with target nuclei. In this review paper the relevant formulae for WIMP event rate calculations are collected. For estimations of the WIMP-proton and WIMP-neutron SD and SI cross sections the effective low-energy minimal supersymmetric standard model is used. The traditional one-coupling-dominance approach for evaluation of the exclusion curves is described. Further, the mixed spin-scalar coupling approach is discussed. It is demonstrated, taking the high-spin Ge-73 dark matter experiment HDMS as an example, how one can drastically improve the sensitivity of the exclusion curves within the mixed spin-scalar coupling approach, as well as due to a new procedure of background subtraction from the measured spectrum. A general discussion on the information obtained from exclusion curves is given. The necessity of clear WIMP direct detection signatures for a solution of the dark matter problem, is pointed out.