Are direct search experiments sensitive to all spin-independent weakly interacting massive particles?
The common analysis of direct searches for spin-independent weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) assumes that a spin-independent WIMP couples with the same strength with both nucleons, i.e., that the spin-independent interaction is also fully isospin independent. Though in a fully isospin-dependent interaction scenario the spin-independent WIMP-nucleus cross section is strongly quenched, the leading experiments are still sensitive enough to set limits 1-2 orders of magnitude less stringent than those traditionally presented. In the isospin-dependent scenario the difference between the limits of CDMS-II and ZEPLIN-I is significantly reduced. Here, a model-independent framework is discussed and applied to obtain the current general model-independent limits.
Giuliani
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Centro de Física Nuclear, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal. franck@cii.fc.ul.pt