Quick Search:
Browse by:

Zurich Open Repository and Archive

Permanent URL to this publication: http://dx.doi.org/10.5167/uzh-58270

XENON100 Collaboration; Aprile, E; Askin, A; Baudis, L; Behrens, A (2011). Likelihood approach to the first dark matter results from XENON100. Physical Review D, 84(5):052003.

 Preview
Accepted Version
PDF (Version 1)
1MB

View at publisher
 Preview
Accepted Version
PDF (Version 2)
1MB

Abstract

Many experiments that aim at the direct detection of dark matter are able to distinguish a dominant background from the expected feeble signals, based on some measured discrimination parameter. We develop a statistical model for such experiments using the profile likelihood ratio as a test statistic in a frequentist approach. We take data from calibrations as control measurements for signal and background, and the method allows the inclusion of data from Monte Carlo simulations. Systematic detector uncertainties, such as uncertainties in the energy scale, as well as astrophysical uncertainties, are included in the model. The statistical model can be used to either set an exclusion limit or to quantify a discovery claim, and the results are derived with the proper treatment of statistical and systematic uncertainties. We apply the model to the first data release of the XENON100 experiment, which allows one to extract additional information from the data, and place stronger limits on the spin-independent elastic weakly interacting massive particles nucleon scattering cross section. In particular, we derive a single limit, including all relevant systematic uncertainties, with a minimum of 2.4×10-44  cm2 for weakly interacting massive particles with a mass of 50  GeV/c2.

Citations

66 citations in Web of Science®
65 citations in Scopus®