Limits on dark matter WIMPs using upward-going muons in the MACRO detector

TL;DR

This study searches for signals of dark matter WIMPs via neutrino-induced upward-going muons in the MACRO detector, setting limits on their flux and constraining theoretical models.

Contribution

It provides the first limits on WIMP-induced muons from the Sun and Earth using MACRO, constraining supersymmetric neutralino parameters.

Findings

No excess muons detected over background

Limits set on muon fluxes from Sun and Earth

Constraints placed on neutralino models

Abstract

We perform an indirect search for Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) using the MACRO detector to look for neutrino-induced upward-going muons resulting from the annihilation of WIMPs trapped in the Sun and Earth. The search is conducted in various angular cones centered on the Sun and Earth to accommodate a range of WIMP masses. No significant excess over the background from atmospheric neutrinos is seen and limits are placed on the upward-going muon fluxes from Sun and Earth. These limits are used to constrain neutralino particle parameters from supersymmetric theory, including those suggested by recent results from DAMA/NaI.