Muon-induced neutrons do not explain the DAMA data

Abstract

We present an accurate model of the muon-induced background in the DAMA/LIBRA experiment. Our work challenges proposed mechanisms which seek to explain the observed DAMA signal modulation with muon-induced backgrounds. Muon generation and transport are performed using the MUSIC/MUSUN code, and subsequent interactions in the vicinity of the DAMA detector cavern are simulated with Geant4. We estimate the total muon-induced neutron flux in the detector cavern to be ${\Phi }_n^{\nu }=1.0\times 10^{-9}$ cm${}^{-2}$ s${}^{-1}$. We predict $3.49\times 10^{-5}$ counts/day/kg/keV, which accounts for less than $0.3\%$ of the DAMA signal modulation amplitude.

6 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in PRL

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• Dark matter direct-detection experiments
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• First search for a dark matter annual modulation signal with NaI(Tl) in the Southern Hemisphere by DM-Ice17
• Dark Matter implications of DAMA/LIBRA-phase2 results
• Modulations of the Cosmic Muon Signal in Ten Years of Borexino Data
• Model-independent comparison of annual modulation and total rate with direct detection experiments
• Muon detector for the COSINE-100 experiment
• The Past and Future of Light Dark Matter Direct Detection
• First measurement of nuclear recoil head-tail sense in a fiducialised WIMP dark matter detector
• Light weakly interacting massive particles
• Neutron flux and spectrum in the Dresden Felsenkeller underground facility studied by moderated ${}^3$He counters
• Measurement of Muon Annual Modulation and Muon-Induced Phosphorescence in NaI(Tl) Crystals with DM-Ice17
• Simulation of neutron background for a dark matter search experiment at JUSL
• Current status and projected sensitivity of COSINE-100
• Production and suppression of delayed light in NaI