Is a WIMP explanation of the DAMA modulation effect still viable?

TL;DR

This paper evaluates whether the WIMP hypothesis, specifically proton-philic spin-dependent inelastic dark matter, remains a plausible explanation for the DAMA modulation signal despite constraints from other experiments.

Contribution

It demonstrates that the WIMP scenario can still explain DAMA's results within current experimental constraints and discusses the model dependence in comparing DAMA with COSINE-100.

Findings

WIMP scenario remains viable for DAMA explanation

COSINE-100 results are model-dependent

WIMP parameter space not fully excluded

Abstract

We show that the weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) scenario of proton-philic spin-dependent inelastic dark matter can still provide a viable explanation of the observed DAMA effect in compliance with the constraints from other experiments. We also show that, although the COSINE-100 collaboration has recently tested the DAMA effect using the same target material, for the time being the comparison between DAMA and COSINE-100 still depends on the particle-physics model.