Extended Maximum Likelihood Halo-independent Analysis of Dark Matter Direct Detection Data

Abstract

We extend and correct a recently proposed maximum-likelihood halo-independent method to analyze unbinned direct dark matter detection data. Instead of the recoil energy as independent variable we use the minimum speed a dark matter particle must have to impart a given recoil energy to a nucleus. This has the advantage of allowing us to apply the method to any type of target composition and interaction, e.g. with general momentum and velocity dependence, and with elastic or inelastic scattering. We prove the method and provide a rigorous statistical interpretation of the results. As first applications, we find that for dark matter particles with elastic spin-independent interactions and neutron to proton coupling ratio $f_n/f_p=-0.7$, the WIMP interpretation of the signal observed by CDMS-II-Si is compatible with the constraints imposed by all other experiments with null results. We also find a similar compatibility for exothermic inelastic spin-independent interactions with $f_n/f_p=-0.8$.

26 pages and 15 figures. Some additional explanations added to the text in v3 with respect to v2

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Cited by in corpus (15)

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• Simulated Milky Way analogues: implications for dark matter indirect searches
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• The Metal-Poor Stellar Halo in RAVE-TGAS and its Implications for the Velocity Distribution of Dark Matter
• Bracketing the impact of astrophysical uncertainties on local dark matter searches
• Halo-independent determination of the unmodulated WIMP signal in DAMA: the isotropic case
• Assessing Compatibility of Direct Detection Data: Halo-Independent Global Likelihood Analyses
• Light weakly interacting massive particles
• Prospects for detection of target-dependent annual modulation in direct dark matter searches
• Halo-Independent Analysis of Direct Dark Matter Detection Through Electron Scattering
• On the importance of direct detection combined limits for spin independent and spin dependent dark matter interactions
• Updated Constraints on the Dark Matter Interpretation of CDMS-II-Si Data
• Halo-Independent Dark Matter Electron Scattering Analysis with In-Medium Effects
• Explaining DAMA with proton-philic spin-dependent inelastic Dark Matter (pSIDM): a frequentist analysis
• Effects of Threshold Energy on Reconstructions of Properties of Low-Mass WIMPs in Direct Dark Matter Detection Experiments