Experimental constraints on a dark matter origin for the DAMA annual modulation effect

Phys Rev Lett. 2008 Dec 19;101(25):251301. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.251301. Epub 2008 Dec 17.

Abstract

A claim for evidence of dark matter interactions in the DAMA experiment has been recently reinforced. We employ a new type of germanium detector to conclusively rule out a standard isothermal galactic halo of weakly interacting massive particles as the explanation for the annual modulation effect leading to the claim. Bounds are similarly imposed on a suggestion that dark pseudoscalars might lead to the effect. We describe the sensitivity to light dark matter particles achievable with our device, in particular, to next-to-minimal supersymmetric model candidates.