Recent results on the low mass dark matter WIMP controversy: 2011

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent experimental results and ongoing debates regarding the existence of low-mass WIMPs, highlighting new data from various detectors and discussing the origin of annual signal variations in underground labs.

Contribution

It provides an updated overview of experimental findings on low-mass WIMPs from 2011, summarizing new results without critically comparing different experimental claims.

Findings

New results from XENON 100, CDMS, LVD, Borexino, and CoGeNT are discussed.

Annual variation data from underground detectors are analyzed.

The paper emphasizes the ongoing scientific debate without taking a definitive stance.

Abstract

We review the confused situation concerning evidence for low-mass WIMPs. In the past one half year there have been new results concerning the existence of WIMPs at low mass including the new XENON 100, 100-day data, additional CDMS results, the publication of annual variation data from LVD and Borexino and new CoGeNT data. Along with the S2 analyses of the XENON 10 data we provide an overview of this situation. We discuss new results from 2011 here. We also discuss the origin of annual variations of signals in underground laboratories. This article is meant to be an update of recent experimental results. It is not a critical comparison of the claims of various experimental groups. Such critiques are made in public conferences and meetings. There is currently an intense discussion being carried out about the low mass WIMP region with many different viewpoints. We have little to say about this situation except that the scientific method usually insures the correct results will eventually surface.