Constraining the spin-independent elastic scattering cross section of dark matter using the Moon as a detection target and the background neutrino data

TL;DR

This paper proposes using the Moon as a natural detector to set new constraints on the spin-independent elastic scattering cross section of dark matter particles by analyzing background neutrino data, providing astrophysical bounds complementary to direct detection methods.

Contribution

It introduces a novel astrophysical approach utilizing the Moon as a detection target to constrain dark matter interactions, deriving limits from neutrino background data.

Findings

Upper limits on cross section: ~10^{-38} to 10^{-36} cm^2

Constraints are effective for specific dark matter mass ranges

Complementary to existing direct detection experiments

Abstract

Our Moon is a natural giant direct-detection target for constraining dark matter. By considering the dark matter capture rate of the Moon, we obtain some constraints of the spin-independent elastic scattering cross section of dark matter particles on nucleons $\sigma_p^{\rm SI}$ using the background neutrino data. The upper limits of $\sigma_p^{\rm SI}$ can be constrained to $\sim 10^{-38}-10^{-36}$ cm$^2$ for certain `resonance dark matter mass' ranges. These stringent astrophysical constraints are complementary to the constraints obtained by the direct-detection experiments.