WIMP Velocity Impact on Direct Dark Matter Searches

TL;DR

This paper investigates how uncertainties in astrophysical parameters, especially WIMP velocity distribution, affect direct dark matter detection constraints, notably relaxing the limits on WIMP mass from DAMA's annual modulation signal.

Contribution

It introduces the impact of astrophysical uncertainties on WIMP detection constraints, providing a more flexible interpretation of DAMA's results.

Findings

Uncertainty in WIMP velocity distribution relaxes mass constraints.

Astrophysical parameter variations significantly influence detection limits.

Results suggest broader parameter space for WIMP models.

Abstract

We examine the effect of some uncertainties in the input astrophysical parameters on direct detection searches for WIMPs in the Galactic halo. We concentrate on the possible WIMP annual modulation signal recently reported by the DAMA Collaboration. We find that allowing for a reasonable uncertainty in a WIMP Maxwellian velocity distribution leads to significantly relaxed constraints on the WIMP mass as compared to the original DAMA analysis.