A Quantum Monte Carlo approach to dark matter-nuclei interaction

Using quantum Monte Carlo Methods, we compute the differential cross sections for elastic scattering of dark matter (DM) particles off light nuclei, up to $A=6$ (d, ³H, ³He, ⁴He, and ⁶Li). DM-nucleon one- and two-body currents are obtained to next-to-leading order in chiral effective theory, and they are derived from a DM-quark and DM-gluon effective interaction. The nuclear ground states wave functions are obtained from a phenomenological nuclear Hamiltonian, composed of the Argonne v₁₈ two-body interaction and the three-body Urbana IX. In this framework, we study the impact of one- and two-body currents and discuss the size of nuclear uncertainties. This work evaluates for the first time two-body effects in $A=4,6$ systems and provides the nuclear structure input that can be used to assess the sensitivity of future experimental searches of (light) dark matter, especially relevant for possible experimental targets such as ³He and ⁴He.

Grantor dc:publisher

Università degli studi di Trento

Year dc:date

2019

Author dc:creator

• Andreoli, Lorenzo

Contributors dc:contributor

• Pederiva, Francesco

• Settore FIS/04 - Fisica Nucleare e Subnucleare

Statement dc:rights

• info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
• license:Tutti i diritti riservati (All rights reserved)
• license uri:iris.PRI01

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

http://dx.doi.org/10.15168/11572_369194
10.15168/11572_369194

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:iris.unitn.it:11572/369194