Reconstructing the WIMP Velocity Distribution from Direct Dark Matter Detection Data with a Non-Negligible Threshold Energy

In this paper, we investigate the modification of our expressions developed for the model-independent data analysis procedure of the reconstruction of the (time-averaged) one-dimensional velocity distribution of Galactic Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) with a non-negligible experimental threshold energy. Our numerical simulations show that, for a minimal reconstructable velocity of as high as O(200) km/s, our model-independent modification of the estimator for the normalization constant could provide precise reconstructed velocity distribution points to match the true WIMP velocity distribution with a <~ 10% bias.

AMIDAS-II: Upgrade of the AMIDAS Package and Website for Direct Dark Matter Detection Experiments and Phenomenology

In this paper, we give a detailed users guide to the AMIDAS (A Model-Independent Data Analysis System) package and website, which is developed for online simulations and data analyses for direct Dark Matter detection experiments and phenomenology. Recently, the whole AMIDAS package and website system has been upgraded to the second phase: AMIDAS-II, for including the new developed Bayesian analysis technique. AMIDAS has the ability to do full Monte Carlo simulations as well as to analyze real/pseudo data sets either generated by another event generating programs or recorded in direct DM detection experiments. Moreover, the AMIDAS-II package can include several user-defined functions into the main code: the (fitting) one-dimensional WIMP velocity distribution function, the nuclear form factors for spin-independent and spin-dependent cross sections, artificial/experimental background spectrum for both of simulation and data analysis procedures, as well as different distribution functions needed in Bayesian analyses.

Bayesian Reconstruction of the Velocity Distribution of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles from Direct Dark Matter Detection Data

In this paper, we extended our earlier work on the reconstruction of the (time-averaged) one-dimensional velocity distribution of Galactic Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) and introduce the Bayesian fitting procedure to the theoretically predicted velocity distribution functions. In this reconstruction process, the (rough) velocity distribution reconstructed by using raw data from direct Dark Matter detection experiments directly, i.e. measured recoil energies, with one or more different target materials, has been used as reconstructed-input information. By assuming a fitting velocity distribution function and scanning the parameter space based on the Bayesian analysis, the astronomical characteristic parameters, e.g. the Solar and Earths Galactic velocities, will be pinned down as the output results. Our Monte-Carlo simulations show that this Bayesian scanning procedure could reconstruct the true (input) WIMP velocity distribution function pretty precisely with negligible systematic deviations of the reconstructed characteristic Solar and Earths velocities and 1 sigma statistical uncertainties of <~ 20 km/s. Moreover, for the use of an improper fitting velocity distribution function, our reconstruction process could still offer useful information about the shape of the velocity distribution. In addition, by comparing these estimates to theoretical predictions, one could distinguish different (basic) functional forms of the theoretically predicted one-dimensional WIMP velocity distribution function with 2 sigma to 4 sigma confidence levels.

Model-Independent Identification of Inelastic WIMPs from Direct Dark Matter Detection Experiments

In this paper, we introduce model-independent data analysis procedures for identifying inelastic WIMP-nucleus scattering as well as for reconstructing the mass and the mass splitting of inelastic WIMPs simultaneously and separately. Our simulations show that, with O(50) observed WIMP signals from one experiment, one could already distinguish the inelastic WIMP scattering scenarios from the elastic one. By combining two or more data sets with positive signals, the WIMP mass and the mass splitting could even be reconstructed with statistical uncertainties of less than a factor of two.

Background effects on reconstructed WIMP couplings

In this talk, I presented effects of small, but non-negligible unrejected background events on the determinations of WIMP couplings/cross sections.

Constraining the Spin-Independent WIMP-Nucleon Coupling from Direct Dark Matter Detection Data

Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) are one of the leading candidates for Dark Matter. For understanding the properties of WIMPs and identifying them among new particles produced at colliders (hopefully in the near future), determinations of their mass and their couplings on nucleons from direct Dark Matter detection experiments are essential. Based on our method for determining the WIMP mass model-independently from experimental data, we present a way to also estimate the spin-independent (SI) WIMP-nucleon coupling by using measured recoil energies directly. This method isindependent of the as yet unknown velocity distribution of halo WIMPs. In spite of the uncertainty of the local WIMP density (of a factor of ~ 2), at least an upper limit on the SI WIMP-nucleon coupling could be given, once two (or more) experiments with different target nuclei obtain positive signals. In a background-free environment, for a WIMP mass of 100 GeV its SI coupling on nucleons could in principle be estimated with a statistical error of only ~ 15% with just 50 events from each experiment.

Improvement of the Determination of the WIMP Mass from Direct Dark Matter Detection Data

Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) are one of the leading candidates for Dark Matter. We developed a model-independent method for determining the WIMP mass by using data (i.e., measured recoil energies) of direct detection experiments. Our method is independent of the as yet unknown WIMP density near the Earth, of the form of the WIMP velocity distribution, as well as of the WIMP-nucleus cross section. It requires however positive signals from at least two detectors with different target nuclei. At the first phase of this work we found a systematic deviation of the reconstructed WIMP mass from the real one for heavy WIMPs. Now we improved this method so that this deviation can be strongly reduced for even very high WIMP mass. The statistical error of the reconstructed mass has also been reduced. In a background-free evironment, a WIMP mass of ~ 50 GeV could in principle be determined with an error of ~ 35% with only 2 times 50 events.

Model-Independent Determination of the WIMP Mass from Direct Dark Matter Detection Data

Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) are one of the leading candidates for Dark Matter. We develop a model-independent method for determining the mass $m_chi$ of the WIMP by using data (i.e., measured recoil energies) of direct detection experiments. Our method is independent of the as yet unknown WIMP density near the Earth, of the form of the WIMP velocity distribution, as well as of the WIMP-nucleus cross section. However, it requires positive signals from at least two detectors with different target nuclei. In a background-free environment, $m_chi sim 50$ GeV could in principle be determined with an error of $sim 35%$ with only $2 times 50$ events; in practice upper and lower limits on the recoil energy of signal events, imposed to reduce backgrounds, can increase the error. The method also loses precision if $m_chi$ significantly exceeds the mass of the heaviest target nucleus used.

Determining the WIMP Mass from Direct Dark Matter Detection Data

Weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) are one of the leading candidates for Dark Matter. So far we can use direct Dark Matter detection to estimate the mass of halo WIMPs only by fitting predicted recoil spectra to future experimental data. Here we develop a model-independent method for determining the WIMP mass by using experimental data directly. This method is independent of the as yet unknown WIMP density near the Earth as well as of the WIMP-nuclear cross section and can be used to extract information about WIMP mass with O(50) events.

Theoretical Interpretation of Experimental Data from Direct Dark Matter Detection

Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) are one of the leading candidates for Dark Matter. Currently, the most promising method to detect WIMPs is the direct detection of the recoil energy deposited in a low-background laboratory detector due to elastic WIMP-nucleus scattering. So far the usual procedure has been to predict the event rate of direct detection of WIMPs based on some model(s) of the Galactic halo from cosmology and of WIMPs from elementary particle physics. The aim of this work is to invert this process. In this thesis I present methods which allow to reconstruct (the moments of) the WIMP velocity distribution function as well as to determine the WIMP mass from the recoil energy spectrum as well as from experimental data directly. The reconstruction of the velocity distribution function has been further extended to take into account the annual modulation of the event rate. Moreover, the reconstruction of the amplitude of the annual modulation of the velocity distribution and an alternative, better way for confirming the annual modulation of the event rate have been discussed. On the other hand, the determination of the WIMP mass by combining two (or more) experiments with different detector materials has been developed. All formulae and expressions given here are not only independent of the model of Galactic halo but also of that of WIMPs. This means that we need neither the as yet unknown WIMP density near the Earth nor the WIMP-nucleus cross section. The only information which we need is the measured recoil energies and their measuring times.