WIMP identification through a combined measurement of axial and scalar couplings

Abstract

We study the prospects for detecting Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs), in a number of phenomenological scenarios, with a detector composed of a target simultaneously sensitive to both spin-dependent and spin-independent couplings, as is the case of COUPP (Chicagoland Observatory for Underground Particle Physics). First, we show that sensitivity to both couplings optimizes chances of initial WIMP detection. Second, we demonstrate that in case of detection, comparison of the signal on two complementary targets, such as in COUPP CF3I and C4F10 bubble chambers, allows a significantly more precise determination of the dark matter axial and scalar couplings. This strategy would provide crucial information on the nature of the WIMPs, and possibly allow discrimination between neutralino and Kaluza-Klein dark matter.

4 pages 2 figures, uses revtex. References added and Fig.2 improved. To appear in PRL

References in corpus (3)

• Precision electroweak constraints on Universal Extra Dimensions revisited
• Relic abundance of dark matter in the minimal universal extra dimension model
• Distinguishing Supersymmetry From Universal Extra Dimensions or Little Higgs Models With Dark Matter Experiments

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• Identification of Dark Matter particles with LHC and direct detection data
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• Collider signals and neutralino dark matter detection in relic-density-consistent models without universality
• Taming astrophysical bias in direct dark matter searches
• Discriminating dark matter candidates using direct detection
• Global fits of the Minimal Universal Extra Dimensions scenario
• Fermion WIMPless Dark Matter at DeepCore and IceCube
• On the spin-dependent sensitivity of XENON100
• Enhanced Line Signals from Annihilating Kaluza-Klein Dark Matter
• Determining Ratios of WIMP-Nucleon Cross Sections from Direct Dark Matter Detection Data
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