Limits on the spin-dependent WIMP-nucleon cross sections from the first science run of the ZEPLIN-III experiment.
We present new experimental constraints on the WIMP-nucleon spin-dependent elastic cross sections using data from the first science run of ZEPLIN-III, a two-phase xenon experiment searching for galactic dark matter weakly interacting massive particles based at the Boulby mine. Analysis of approximately 450 kg x days fiducial exposure allow us to place a 90%-confidence upper limit on the pure WIMP-neutron cross section of sigma(n)=1.9x10(-2) pb at 55 GeV/c(2) WIMP mass. Recent calculations of the nuclear spin structure based on the Bonn charge-dependent nucleon-nucleon potential were used for the odd-neutron isotopes 129Xe and 131Xe. These indicate that the sensitivity of xenon targets to the spin-dependent WIMP-proton interaction could be much lower than implied by previous calculations, whereas the WIMP-neutron sensitivity is impaired only by a factor of approximately 2.
Lebedenko
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VN
Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
Araújo
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Barnes
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Bewick
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Cashmore
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Chepel
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Currie
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Davidge
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Dawson
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Durkin
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Edwards
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Ghag
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Horn
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Howard
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Hughes
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Jones
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Joshi
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Kalmus
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Kovalenko
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Lindote
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Liubarsky
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Lopes
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Lüscher
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Lyons
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Majewski
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Murphy
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Neves
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da Cunha
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Preece
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Quenby
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Scovell
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Silva
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Solovov
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Smith
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Stekhanov
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Sumner
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Thorne
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Walker
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