Directional Observation of Cold Dark Matter Particles (WIMP) in Light Target Experiments

• Main Authors: Anna Anokhina, Vasilisa Gulyaeva, Emil Khalikov, Evgeny Kurochkin, Tatiana Roganova, Eduard Ursov, Ivan Vidulin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-06-01
• Series: Universe
• Subjects: WIMP; direct detection; nuclear recoils; light target; constraints
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/7/7/215

For the last 10 years, the search for dark matter (DM) was carried out taking into account the fact that the DM particles are WIMPs (Weakly Interacted Massive Particles) which were introduced in supersymmetric extensions of the Standard Model. Many experiments such as XENON1T, DarkSide, CRESST, etc. set the constraints on the WIMP-nucleon elastic interaction cross sections for different assumed WIMP masses. Methods for detecting WIMPs could play a special role, allowing one to determine the directions of the tracks of recoil nuclei and, therefore, to determine the preferred direction of the WIMP flux. In this work, we analyze the capabilities of such direct detection experiments through analyzing the lengths and directions of the tracks of recoil nuclei. Taking into account the existing experimental constraints, we conclude that the optimal target would be a lower density target containing nuclei of the CNO group, for example, liquid propane.