Paper detail

New approaches in the analysis of Dark Matter direct detection data: scratching below the surface of the most general WIMP parameter space

We show that compatibility between the DAMA modulation result (as well as less statistically significant excesses such as the CDMS Silicon effect and the excess claimed by CRESST) with constraints from other experiments can be achieved by extending the analysis of direct detection data beyond the standard elastic scattering of a WIMP off nuclei with a spin--dependent or a spin--independent cross section and with a velocity distribution as predicted by the Isothermal Sphere model. To do so we discuss several new approaches for the analysis of Dark Matter direct detection data, with the goal to remove or reduce its dependence on specific theoretical assumptions, and to extend its scope: the factorization approach of astrophysics uncertainties, the classification and study of WIMP-nucleon interactions within non--relativistic field theory, inelastic scattering and isovector-coupling cancellations including subdominant two-nucleon NLO effects. Typically, combining two or more of these ingredients can lead to conclusions which are very different to what usually claimed in the literature. This shows that we are only starting now to scratch the surface of the most general WIMP direct detection parameter space.