Implications for relic neutralinos of the theoretical uncertainties in the neutralino-nucleon cross-section

TL;DR

This paper analyzes how uncertainties in quark masses and scalar densities affect the neutralino-nucleon cross-section calculations, impacting dark matter detection interpretations and suggesting DAMA data compatibility with neutralino dark matter.

Contribution

It quantifies the impact of theoretical uncertainties on neutralino detection predictions and revises the compatibility of DAMA data with neutralino dark matter.

Findings

DAMA data remains compatible with neutralino dark matter despite uncertainties.

Theoretical uncertainties enlarge the parameter space for neutralino detection.

Implications for indirect detection experiments are also discussed.

Abstract

We discuss the effect induced on the neutralino-nucleon cross-section by the present uncertainties in the values of the quark masses and of the quark scalar densities in the nucleon. We examine the implications of this aspect on the determination of the neutralino cosmological properties, as derived from measurements of WIMP direct detection. We show that, within current theoretical uncertainties, the DAMA annual modulation data are compatible with a neutralino as a major dark matter component, to an extent which is even larger than the one previously derived. We also comment on implications of the mentioned uncertainties for experiments of indirect dark matter detection.