Direct dark matter search by observing electrons produced in neutralino–nucleus collisions Original Research Article

Exotic dark matter and dark energy together seem to dominate in the Universe. Supersymmetry naturally provides a candidate for the dark matter constituents via the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP). The most important process for directly detecting dark matter is the LSP–nucleus elastic scattering by measuring the energy of the recoiling nucleus. In the present work we explore a novel process, which has definite experimental advantages, that is the detection of the dark matter constituents by observing the low energy ionization electrons. These electrons, which are produced during the LSP–nucleus collision, may be observed separately or in coincidence with the recoiling nuclei. We develop the formalism and apply it in calculating the ratio of the ionization rate to the nuclear recoil rate in a variety of atoms including 20Ne, 40Ar, 76Ge, 78Kr and 132Xe, employing realistic Hartree–Fock electron wave functions. The obtained ratios are essentially independent of all parameters of supersymmetry except the neutralino mass, but they crucially depend on the electron energy cutoff. These ratios per electron tend to increase with the atomic number and can be as high as 10%. Based on our results it is both interesting and realistic to detect the LSP by measuring the ionization electrons following the LSP nuclear collisions.