Search for An Annual Modulation in Three Years of CoGeNT Dark Matter Detector Data

C. E. Aalseth; P. S. Barbeau; J. Colaresi; J. I. Collar; J. Diaz Leon; J. E. Fast; N. E. Fields; T. W. Hossbach; A. Knecht; M. S. Kos; M. G. Marino; H. S. Miley; M. L. Miller; J. L. Orrell; K. M. Yocum

arXiv · 1401.3295

Search for An Annual Modulation in Three Years of CoGeNT Dark Matter Detector Data

C. E. Aalseth·P. S. Barbeau·J. Colaresi·J. I. Collar·J. Diaz Leon·J. E. Fast·N. E. Fields·T. W. Hossbach·A. Knecht·M. S. Kos·M. G. Marino·H. S. Miley·M. L. Miller·J. L. Orrell·K. M. Yocum

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Abstract

Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) are well-established dark matter candidates. WIMP interactions with sensitive detectors are expected to display a characteristic annual modulation in rate. We release a dataset spanning 3.4 years of operation from a low-background germanium detector, designed to search for this signature. A previously reported modulation persists, concentrated in a region of the energy spectrum populated by an exponential excess of unknown origin. Its phase and period agree with phenomenological expectations, but its amplitude is a factor $\sim$4-7 larger than predicted for a standard WIMP galactic halo. We consider the possibility of a non-Maxwellian local halo velocity distribution as a plausible explanation, able to help reconcile recently reported WIMP search anomalies.

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C. E. Aalseth, P. S. Barbeau, J. Colaresi, J. I. Collar, J. Diaz Leon, J. E. Fast, N. E. Fields, T. W. Hossbach, A. Knecht, M. S. Kos, M. G. Marino, H. S. Miley, M. L. Miller, J. L. Orrell, K. M. Yocum. 2014-01-14. Search for An Annual Modulation in Three Years of CoGeNT Dark Matter Detector Data. https://arxiv.org/abs/1401.3295

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