UNSPECIFIED. (2005) Directional statistics for realistic weakly interacting massive particle direct detection experiments. II. 2D readout. PHYSICAL REVIEW D, 72 (12). -. ISSN 1550-7998

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Abstract

The direction dependence of the WIMP direct detection rate provides a powerful tool for distinguishing a WIMP signal from possible backgrounds. We study the number of events required to discriminate a WIMP signal from an isotropic background for a detector with 2-d readout using nonparametric circular statistics. We also examine the number of events needed to (i) detect a deviation from rotational symmetry, due to flattening of the Milky Way halo and (ii) detect a deviation in the mean direction due to a tidal stream. If the senses of the recoils are measured then of order 20--70 events (depending on the plane of the 2-d readout and the detector location) will be sufficient to reject isotropy of the raw recoil angles at 90% confidence. If the senses can not be measured these number increase by roughly 2 orders of magnitude (compared with an increase of 1 order of magnitude for the case of full 3-d readout). The distributions of the reduced angles, with the (time-dependent) direction of solar motion subtracted, are far more anisotropic, however, and if the isotropy tests are applied to these angles then the numbers of events required are similar to the case of 3-d readout. A deviation from rotational symmetry will only be detectable if the Milky Way halo is significantly flattened. The deviation in the mean direction due to a tidal stream is potentially detectable, however, depending on the density and direction of the stream. The meridian plane (which contains the Earth's spin axis) is, for all detector locations, the optimum readout plane for rejecting isotropy. However readout in this plane can not be used for detecting flattening of the Milky Way halo or a stream with direction perpendicular to the galactic plane. In these cases the optimum readout plane depends on the detector location.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	Q Science > QB Astronomy Q Science > QC Physics
Journal or Publication Title:	PHYSICAL REVIEW D
Publisher:	AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOC
ISSN:	1550-7998
Date:	December 2005
Volume:	72
Number:	12
Number of Pages:	10
Page Range:	-
Identification Number:	10.1103/PhysRevD.72.123501
Publication Status:	Published
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/34037

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