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Annual modulation of dark matter signals: Experimental results and new ideas

by Felix Kahlhoefer

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Submission summary

Authors (as registered SciPost users): Felix Kahlhoefer
Submission information
Preprint Link: scipost_202209_00060v1  (pdf)
Code repository: https://github.com/GambitBSM/DDCalc
Date submitted: 2022-09-28 10:29
Submitted by: Kahlhoefer, Felix
Submitted to: SciPost Physics Proceedings
Proceedings issue: 14th International Conference on Identification of Dark Matter (IDM2022)
Ontological classification
Academic field: Physics
Specialties:
  • Gravitation, Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
  • High-Energy Physics - Phenomenology
Approach: Phenomenological

Abstract

Direct detection experiments searching for the scattering of dark matter particles off nuclei expect an annual modulation in their event rate. In this presentation, I will review the theoretical predictions and the experimental status of the search for annual modulations, with a focus on ongoing and planned experiments using NaI detectors. In particular, I will discuss the interpretation of the DAMA signal and related model-building efforts.

Current status:
Has been resubmitted

Reports on this Submission

Report #1 by Anonymous (Referee 1) on 2022-10-10 (Invited Report)

  • Cite as: Anonymous, Report on arXiv:scipost_202209_00060v1, delivered 2022-10-10, doi: 10.21468/SciPost.Report.5863

Report

The paper, contribution to the Proceedings of the IDM 2022 conference, reviews about the annual modulation of the dark matter signals in NaI(Tl), both in terms of experimental and model-building efforts. The paper can be published, once the small remarks in the following will be fulfilled.

- page 1 it is written: “… is predicted to switch sign at very low recoil energies (so-called anti-modulation)…”. Actually, once considering the energy resolution of the detectors such a “anti-mod” can be smeared out.

- page 1, the footnote: The author cites the paper [7]; however, the arguments of [7] have already been confuted by DAMA in ref:
1) Prog. Part. Nucl. Phys. 114 (2020) 103810 and
2) arXiv:2209.00882 (your ref. [10])
For an unbiased view, these should be cited as well.

- page 2: “… the DAMA collaboration has been observing an annual modulation in their nuclear recoil data…”. Actually, ... in the experimental single-hit data. No selection between electromagnetic and recoil data can be done at low energy.

- page 2: it is cited ref [8] for DAMA, however more updated ref is Nucl. Phys. At. Energy 22 (2021) 329 and your ref. [10]. The significance is slightly larger.

  • validity: -
  • significance: -
  • originality: -
  • clarity: -
  • formatting: -
  • grammar: -

Author:  Felix Kahlhoefer  on 2022-11-28  [id 3081]

(in reply to Report 1 on 2022-10-10)
Category:
reply to objection

I am grateful for the various suggestions. I detail below how they have been addressed in the resubmission:

  • page 1 it is written: “… is predicted to switch sign at very low recoil energies (so-called anti-modulation)…”. Actually, once considering the energy resolution of the detectors such a “anti-mod” can be smeared out.

Page 1 discusses the physical recoil spectrum, not the observed one, so the statement about anti-modulation is correct. However, I have added a comment on the possible effect of energy resolution in the context of DAMA on page 2.

  • page 1, the footnote: The author cites the paper [7]; however, the arguments of [7] have already been confuted by DAMA in ref: 1) Prog. Part. Nucl. Phys. 114 (2020) 103810 and 2) arXiv:2209.00882 (your ref. [10]) For an unbiased view, these should be cited as well.

The footnote on page 1 makes a very general statement without any reference to the DAMA experiment (which at this point in the text has not even been introduced yet). I believe the statement in the footnote to be factually correct, and no implication regarding DAMA is being made. I therefore find it unnecessary to add further references.

  • page 2: “… the DAMA collaboration has been observing an annual modulation in their nuclear recoil data…”. Actually, ... in the experimental single-hit data. No selection between electromagnetic and recoil data can be done at low energy.

I agree and have changed the text accordingly.

  • page 2: it is cited ref [8] for DAMA, however more updated ref is Nucl. Phys. At. Energy 22 (2021) 329 and your ref. [10]. The significance is slightly larger.

I agree and have changed the text accordingly.

Author:  Felix Kahlhoefer  on 2022-11-28  [id 3080]

(in reply to Report 1 on 2022-10-10)
Category:
reply to objection

I am grateful for the various suggestions. I detail below how they have been addressed in the resubmission:

  • page 1 it is written: “… is predicted to switch sign at very low recoil energies (so-called anti-modulation)…”. Actually, once considering the energy resolution of the detectors such a “anti-mod” can be smeared out.

Page 1 discusses the physical recoil spectrum, not the observed one, so the statement about anti-modulation is correct. However, I have added a comment on the possible effect of energy resolution in the context of DAMA on page 2.

  • page 1, the footnote: The author cites the paper [7]; however, the arguments of [7] have already been confuted by DAMA in ref: 1) Prog. Part. Nucl. Phys. 114 (2020) 103810 and 2) arXiv:2209.00882 (your ref. [10]) For an unbiased view, these should be cited as well.

The footnote on page 1 makes a very general statement without any reference to the DAMA experiment (which at this point in the text has not even been introduced yet). I believe the statement in the footnote to be factually correct, and no implication regarding DAMA is being made. I therefore find it unnecessary to add further references.

  • page 2: “… the DAMA collaboration has been observing an annual modulation in their nuclear recoil data…”. Actually, ... in the experimental single-hit data. No selection between electromagnetic and recoil data can be done at low energy.

I agree and have changed the text accordingly.

  • page 2: it is cited ref [8] for DAMA, however more updated ref is Nucl. Phys. At. Energy 22 (2021) 329 and your ref. [10]. The significance is slightly larger.

I agree and have changed the text accordingly.

Anonymous on 2022-11-30  [id 3091]

(in reply to Felix Kahlhoefer on 2022-11-28 [id 3080])
Category:
suggestion for further work

Dear Author,

please resubmit an updated version for the revision.

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