Inelastic Dark Matter and the SABRE Experiment

TL;DR

This paper evaluates SABRE's potential to detect inelastic dark matter models, analyzing how different dark matter velocity distributions affect sensitivity and showing SABRE could confirm these models within a few years.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed sensitivity analysis of SABRE for inelastic dark matter models considering various dark matter velocity distributions.

Findings

SABRE can detect the benchmark models within 3-5 years.

Dark matter velocity distribution impacts experimental sensitivity.

SABRE's sensitivity covers models consistent with DAMA/LIBRA data.

Abstract

We present here the sensitivity of the SABRE (Sodium iodide with Active Background REjection) experiment to benchmark proto-philic, spin dependent, Inelastic Dark Matter models previously proposed due to their lowered tension with existing experimental results. We perform fits to cross section, mass, and mass splitting values to find the best fit to DAMA/LIBRA data for these models. In this analysis, we consider the Standard Halo Model (SHM), as well as an interesting extension upon it, the SHM+Stream distribution, to investigate the influence of the Dark Matter velocity distribution upon experimental sensitivity and whether or not its consideration may be able to help relieve the present experimental tension. Based on our analysis, SABRE should be sensitive to all the three benchmark models within 3-5 years of data taking.