title: Limits on the spin-dependent WIMP-nucleon cross sections from the first science run of the ZEPLIN-III experiment.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: V N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Lebedenko
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bewick
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cashmore
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chepel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Currie
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Davidge
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Durkin
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ghag
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horn
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Kalmus
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Kovalenko
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lindote
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Liubarsky
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lüscher
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lyons
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Majewski
authors.forename: A St J
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Neves
authors.forename: J Pinto
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: da Cunha
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Preece
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Quenby
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Scovell
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: V N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Solovov
authors.forename: N J T
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: V N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Stekhanov
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Sumner
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thorne
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Walker