Have we found conclusive evidence for dark matter through direct detection experiments?

TL;DR

This paper uses a model-independent approach to analyze recent direct detection experiments, finding no conclusive evidence for low-mass dark matter and challenging certain dark matter models.

Contribution

It introduces a SUSY-model-independent method to constrain dark matter couplings using recent experimental data.

Findings

Constraints on spin-dependent couplings: |a_n| < 0.6, |a_p| < 1.0

Upper limits on cross sections: σ_n < 5.6×10^{-38}cm^2, σ_p < 1.6×10^{-37}cm^2

Spin-independent isospin violating models cannot reconcile XENON100 with DAMA and CoGeNT

Abstract

We employ a SUSY-model-independent method to examine the remaining evidence for the low mass dark matter. Using the XENON100's recent result of 224.6 live days $\times$ 34kg exposure and PICASSO's result published in 2009, we have obtained a constrain of couplings, $\| {{a_n}} \| < 0.6$ and $\| {{a_p}} \| < 1.0$, corresponding to the spin-dependent cross section of ${\sigma_n} < 5.6 \times {10^{- 38}}$cm$^{2}$ and ${\sigma_p} < 1.6 \times {10^{- 37}}$cm$^{2}$. Spin-independent isospin violating dark matter model also failed to reconcile the recent result from XENON100 with the positive results from DAMA and CoGeNT.