Limits on dark matter proton scattering from neutrino telescopes using micrOMEGAs

TL;DR

This paper derives limits on dark matter-proton spin-dependent scattering cross sections from IceCube neutrino data, showing that for most channels these limits are stronger than direct detection results, with uncertainties up to a factor of two.

Contribution

It introduces new functions to derive dark matter scattering limits from neutrino telescope data, improving the analysis of various annihilation channels.

Findings

Limits are more stringent than direct detection for most channels.

Uncertainty in limits can reach a factor of two.

New functions enable easier derivation of limits.

Abstract

Limits on dark matter spin dependent elastic scattering cross section on protons derived from IceCube data are obtained for different dark matter annihilation channels using micrOMEGAs. The uncertainty on the derived limits, estimated by using different neutrino spectra, can reach a factor two. For all dark matter annihilation channels except for quarks, the limits on the spin dependent cross section are more stringent than those obtained in direct detection experiments. The new functions that allow to derive those limits are described.