Speaker
Description
In this work, we investigate the dependence of dark matter (DM) direct detection results, specifically single phonon scattering observables, on the astrophysical properties of the local DM halo. We analyze the impact of uncertainties in DM halo velocity distributions on both total cross-sections and daily modulation in single phonon excitation rates. Employing the Standard Halo Model (SHM), Tsallis model, and an empirical model, we explore the effects of varying key astrophysical parameters, including the local circular velocity ($v_{0}$), escape velocity ($v_{esc}$), and earth’s velocity ($v_{E}$). We find that the uncertainties of these parameters cause substantial deviations in direct detection projected reach for DM-single phonon scattering, with the impact being highly pronounced for low DM masses. Our findings underscore the paramount importance of accurately determining astrophysical inputs for a reliable interpretation of experimental efforts targeting DM detection via single phonon excitations.
