Strong constraints from COSINE-100 on the DAMA dark matter results using the same sodium iodide target

TL;DR

The COSINE-100 experiment used 1.7 years of data with sodium iodide detectors to test DAMA's dark matter claim, finding no evidence and challenging DAMA's interpretation under standard halo assumptions.

Contribution

This study provides the first direct test of DAMA's dark matter signal using the same NaI(Tl) detectors with an extended data set and improved analysis, setting new constraints.

Findings

No dark matter signal detected in COSINE-100 data

Constraints exclude DAMA-compatible models under standard halo assumptions

Enhanced sensitivity compared to previous searches

Abstract

We present new constraints on dark matter interactions using 1.7 years of COSINE-100 data. The COSINE-100 experiment, consisting of 106 kg of tallium-doped sodium iodide (NaI(Tl)) target material, is aimed at testing DAMA's claim of dark matter observation using the same NaI(Tl) detectors. Improved event selection requirements, a more precise understanding of the detector background and the use of a larger data set considerably enhances the COSINE-100 sensitivity for dark matter detection. No signal consistent with the dark matter interaction is identified, and rules out model-dependent dark matter interpretations of the DAMA signals in the specific context of standard halo model with the same NaI(Tl) target for various interaction hypotheses.