Probing neutralino dark matter in the MSSM & the NMSSM with directional detection

TL;DR

Directional detectors, like the future MIMAC, can effectively probe neutralino dark matter in supersymmetric models through spin-dependent interactions, complementing other search methods and constraining model parameters.

Contribution

This study demonstrates the potential of directional detection to explore neutralino dark matter in MSSM and NMSSM, highlighting its unique sensitivity to spin-dependent interactions and its complementarity with other search strategies.

Findings

Directional detectors can probe spin-dependent dark matter interactions beyond current spin-independent limits.

Complementarity between direct, indirect, and collider searches enhances dark matter detection prospects.

Constraints on model parameters can be derived from potential dark matter signals.

Abstract

We investigate the capability of directional detectors to probe neutralino dark matter in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model and the Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model with parameters defined at the weak scale. We show that directional detectors such as the future MIMAC detector will probe spin dependent dark matter scattering on nucleons that are beyond the reach of current spin independent detectors. The complementarity between indirect searches, in particular using gamma rays from dwarf spheroidal galaxies, spin dependent and spin independent direct search techniques is emphasized. We comment on the impact of the negative results on squark searches at the LHC. Finally, we investigate how the fundamental parameters of the models can be constrained in the event of a dark matter signal.