Relevance of Ion-Channeling for Direct DM Detection

TL;DR

This paper evaluates how ion-channeling in crystalline detectors affects the detection signals of dark matter particles, impacting the expected detection rate and daily modulation in experiments.

Contribution

It provides analytic estimates of ion-channeling effects on direct dark matter detection signals using models from the 1960s and 70s.

Findings

Channeling can significantly enhance detection signals.

Daily modulation of signals is influenced by channeling effects.

Analytic models help quantify the importance of channeling.

Abstract

The channeling of the recoiling nucleus in crystalline detectors after a WIMP collision would produce a larger scintillation or ionization signal in direct detection experiments than otherwise expected. I present estimates of the importance of this effect for the total direct detection rate and the daily modulation of the signal using analytic models produced in the 1960's and 70's to describe the effects of channeling and blocking in crystals.