A Search for the Dark Matter Annual Modulation in South Pole Ice

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel dark matter detection experiment using NaI scintillation detectors deployed in South Pole ice to investigate annual modulation signals and background effects, complementing existing Northern Hemisphere efforts.

Contribution

It introduces a new experimental setup in South Pole ice for dark matter detection, focusing on seasonal background effects and annual modulation signals.

Findings

Sensitivity analysis of a 250 kg NaI detector at South Pole

Potential to distinguish seasonal background effects from dark matter signals

Complementary data to existing Northern Hemisphere experiments

Abstract

Astrophysical observations and cosmological data have led to the conclusion that nearly one quarter of the Universe consists of dark matter. Under certain assumptions, an observable signature of dark matter is the annual modulation of the rate of dark matter-nucleon interactions taking place in an Earth-bound experiment. To search for this effect, we introduce the concept for a new dark matter experiment using NaI scintillation detectors deployed deep in the South Pole ice. This experiment complements dark matter search efforts in the Northern Hemisphere and will investigate the observed annual modulation in the DAMA/LIBRA and DAMA/NaI experiments. The unique location will permit the study of background effects correlated with seasonal variations and the surrounding environment. This paper describes the experimental concept and explores the sensitivity of a 250 kg NaI experiment at the South Pole.