New Limits on Dark Matter from Super-Kamiokande

TL;DR

This paper uses Super-Kamiokande data to set new limits on light WIMP dark matter particles, challenging interpretations of signals from DAMA and CoGeNT experiments and constraining their possible properties.

Contribution

It provides the first comprehensive constraints on WIMP-nucleon cross sections based on neutrino signals from the sun, especially for light WIMPs and various annihilation channels.

Findings

DAMA and CoGeNT signals are incompatible with standard thermal WIMPs.

Super-Kamiokande data exclude the DAMA favored region for certain WIMP annihilation channels.

Limits on spin-dependent WIMP scattering are established for masses up to 80 GeV.

Abstract

The signals observed at the direct detection experiments DAMA, CoGeNT and CRESST could be explained by light WIMPs with sizeable spin-independent cross sections with nucleons. The capture and subsequent annihilation of such particles in the sun would induce neutrino signals in the GeV range which may be observed at Super-Kamiokande. We determine the rate of upward stopping muons and fully contained events at Super-Kamiokande for various possible WIMP annihilation channels. This allows us to provide strong constraints on the cross section of WIMPs with nucleons. We find that the DAMA and CoGeNT signals are inconsistent with standard thermal WIMPs annihilating dominantly into neutrino or tau pairs. We also provide limits for spin-dependent WIMP nucleus scattering for masses up to 80 GeV. These exclude the DAMA favored region if WIMPs annihilate even subdominantly into neutrinos, taus, bottoms or charms.