Limits on spin-dependent WIMP-nucleon cross sections from 225 live days of XENON100 data

TL;DR

This paper reports new experimental limits on spin-dependent WIMP-nucleon interactions based on 225 days of data from the XENON100 detector, setting the most stringent constraints for WIMP masses above 6 GeV.

Contribution

The study provides the most stringent upper limits on WIMP-neutron cross sections for WIMP masses above 6 GeV using XENON100 data, with no detected excess signal.

Findings

No excess signal observed in 225 days of data

Set minimum WIMP-neutron cross section limit of 3.5 x 10^{-40} cm^2 at 45 GeV

Established new upper limits on spin-dependent WIMP interactions

Abstract

We present new experimental constraints on the elastic, spin-dependent WIMP-nucleon cross section using recent data from the XENON100 experiment, operated in the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso in Italy. An analysis of 224.6 live days x 34 kg of exposure acquired during 2011 and 2012 revealed no excess signal due to axial-vector WIMP interactions with 129-Xe and 131-Xe nuclei. This leads to the most stringent upper limits on WIMP-neutron cross sections for WIMP masses above 6 GeV, with a minimum cross section of 3.5 x 10^{-40} cm^2 at a WIMP mass of 45 GeV, at 90% confidence level.