Justin Morgan with Richard Schnee  (2nd semester of project)

Numerical Calculation of a Comparison Between Various WIMP Search Experiments

One WIMP dark matter search, the DAMA experiment, has claimed detection of WIMPs, in possible conflict with other searches that have detected no signal. Comparisons made so far between this experiment and others (such as the Cryogenic Dark Matter Search, the WIMP search in which our group is involved) have depended on approximations. Furthermore, no statistical comparison has considered the effects of possible different distributions of WIMP velocities in the Galaxy (different WIMP “halo models”). The goal of this senior project would be to compare the results of these experiments without approximations by simulating expected results for the experiments. These simulations would also consider different possible WIMP halo models.