Velocity distributions and annual-modulation signatures of weakly-interacting massive particles

Abstract

An annual modulation in the event rate of the NaI detector of the DAMA collaboration has been used to infer the existence of particle dark matter in the Galactic halo. Bounds on the WIMP mass and WIMP-nucleon cross section have been derived. These analyses have assumed that the local dark-matter velocity distribution is either isotropic or has some bulk rotation. Here we consider the effects of possible structure in the WIMP velocity distribution on the annual-modulation amplitude. We show that if we allow for a locally anisotropic velocity dispersion tensor, the interpretation of direct detection experiments could be altered significantly. We also show that uncertainties in the velocity distribution that arise from uncertainties in the radial density profile are less important if the velocity dispersion is assumed to be isotropic.

15 pages, 6 figures

References in corpus (1)

• Semi-Analytic Models for Dark Matter Halos

Cited by in corpus (62)

• Dark Matter Detection in the Light of Recent Experimental Results
• Phase-space structure in the local dark matter distribution and its signature in direct detection experiments
• Effect of the galactic halo modeling on the DAMA/NaI annual modulation result: an extended analysis of the data for WIMPs with a purely spin-independent coupling
• Annual Modulation of Dark Matter in the Presence of Streams
• Probing the supersymmetric parameter space by WIMP direct detection
• The Dark Matter at the End of the Galaxy
• Interpreting the recent results on direct search for dark matter particles in terms of relic neutralino
• Dark matter in Draco and the Local Group: Implications for direct detection experiments
• Directional statistics for WIMP direct detection
• The phase-space structure of a dark-matter halo: Implications for dark-matter direct detection experiments
• Effect of halo modelling on WIMP exclusion limits
• Effect of realistic astrophysical inputs on the phase and shape of the WIMP annual modulation signal
• Dependence of direct detection signals on the WIMP velocity distribution
• Physics Potential and Prospects for the CUORICINO and CUORE Experiments
• Signatures of Hierarchical Clustering in Dark Matter Detection Experiments
• Anisotropic dark matter distribution functions and impact on WIMP direct detection
• The impact of going beyond the Maxwell distribution in direct dark matter detection rates
• Direct detection of WIMPs
• A Bayesian view of the current status of dark matter direct searches
• Anatomy of Eddington-like inversion methods in the context of dark matter searches
• Can Solar Neutrinos be a Serious Background in Direct Dark Matter Searches?
• Theoretical Directional and Modulated Rates for Direct SUSY Dark Matter Detection
• The impact of the phase-space density on the indirect detection of dark matter
• A self-consistent phase-space distribution function for the anisotropic Dark Matter halo of the Milky Way
• Taming astrophysical bias in direct dark matter searches
• Deriving the velocity distribution of Galactic Dark Matter particles from rotation curve data
• Do current WIMP direct measurements constrain light relic neutralinos?
• Searching for Supersymmetric Dark Matter - The Directional Rate and the Modulation Effect Due to Caustic Rings
• Discovery potential for directional Dark Matter detection with nuclear emulsions
• Solar Wakes of Dark Matter Flows
• Fine Structure of Dark Matter Halos and its Effect on Terrestrial Detection Experiments
• On The Direct Detection of Dark Matter- Exploring all the signatures of the neutralino-nucleus interaction
• Direct Dark Matter Detection - A spin 3/2 WIMP candidate
• Theoretical direct WIMP detection rates for transitions to excited states
• Predicting the dark matter velocity distribution in galactic structures: tests against hydrodynamic cosmological simulations
• Direct dark matter searches - Test of the Big Bounce Cosmology
• Experimental identification of non-pointlike dark-matter candidates
• Direct Detection Rates of Dark Matter Coupled to Dark Energy
• On dark matter search after DAMA with Ge-73
• Dark matter capture by the Sun: revisiting velocity distribution uncertainties
• Chasing a consistent picture for dark matter direct searches
• Direct Dark Matter Detection with Velocity Distribution in the Eddington approach
• Direct Search for Dark Matter - Striking the Balance - and the Future
• Theoretical direct WIMP detection rates for transitions to nuclear excited states
• Towards a more rigorous treatment of uncertainties on the velocity distribution of dark matter particles for capture in stars
• Debris Flows in Direct Dark Matter Searches-The modulation effect
• Light WIMP searches involving electron scattering
• Two-integral distribution functions in axisymmetric galaxies: implications for dark matter searches
• Derivation of the anisotropy profile, constraints on the local velocity dispersion, and implications for direct detection
• Circular polarization of cosmic photons due to their interactions with Sterile neutrino dark matter
• Modelling the transient processes produced under heavy particle irradiation
• Heavy sterile neutrino in dark matter searches
• Cosmological simulations of the same spiral galaxy: connecting the dark matter distribution of the host halo with the subgrid baryonic physics
• One needs positive signatures for detection of Dark Matter
• Nuclear target effect on dark matter detection rate
• Predicted modulated differential rates for direct WIMP searches at low energy transfers
• Determining the Actual Local Density of Dark Matter Particles
• Bayesian analysis of multiple direct detection experiments
• On the statistical theory of self-gravitating collisionless dark matter flow: Scale and redshift variation of velocity and density distributions
• Predicted rates for direct WIMP searches
• New Velocity Distribution in the Context of the Eddington Theory
• Testing the predictions of axisymmetric distribution functions of galactic dark matter with hydrodynamical simulations