Tufts/CfA/MIT Cosmology Seminar, at the CfA:

Tuesday, November 25, 2008
2:30 pm
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
60 Garden Street, Cambridge
Phillips Auditorium, Building D

"Inelastic dark matter and DAMA/LIBRA"

David Tucker-Smith
Williams College

Abstract:

The DAMA/LIBRA dark matter direct detection experiment recently confirmed the annual modulation signal reported by DAMA/NaI, with the signal significance now above 8 sigma. Assuming that this signal is in fact due to WIMP scattering off of nuclei, the question becomes how these WIMPs have evaded detection at other experiments at such as CDMS and XENON. I will discuss the idea that the dark matter particles dominantly scatter inelastically - by making a transition to a slightly heavier state - and will show that within this scenario all current results from direct detection experiments are consistent. I will describe the distinctive features of inelastic dark matter and present predictions for upcoming experiments, where the scenario will either be confirmed or ruled out.

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