Results from a search for dark matter in the complete LUX exposure

TL;DR

This paper reports new constraints on WIMP dark matter interactions from the LUX experiment, achieving improved sensitivity and excluding certain cross sections at 50 GeV/c^2, with no evidence of WIMP detection.

Contribution

The study provides the most sensitive limits to date on WIMP-nucleon cross sections at high masses using the complete LUX exposure data.

Findings

No WIMP signals detected in the data.

Excluded WIMP-nucleon cross sections above 2.2e-46 cm^2 at 50 GeV/c^2.

Combined data strengthens exclusion limits to 1.1e-46 cm^2.

Abstract

We report constraints on spin-independent weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP)-nucleon scattering using a 3.35e4 kg-day exposure of the Large Underground Xenon (LUX) experiment. A dual-phase xenon time projection chamber with 250 kg of active mass is operated at the Sanford Underground Research Facility under Lead, South Dakota (USA). With roughly fourfold improvement in sensitivity for high WIMP masses relative to our previous results, this search yields no evidence of WIMP nuclear recoils. At a WIMP mass of 50 GeV/c^2, WIMP-nucleon spin-independent cross sections above 2.2e-46 cm^2 are excluded at the 90% confidence level. When combined with the previously reported LUX exposure, this exclusion strengthens to 1.1e-46 cm^2 at 50 GeV/c^2.