Constraining the spin-independent elastic scattering cross section of dark matter using the Moon as a detection target and the background neutrino data

Abstract

Our Moon is a natural giant direct-detection target for constraining dark matter. By considering the dark matter capture rate of the Moon, we obtain some constraints of the spin-independent elastic scattering cross section of dark matter particles on nucleons ${\sigma }_p^{\mathrm{SI}}$ using the background neutrino data. The upper limits of ${\sigma }_p^{\mathrm{SI}}$ can be constrained to $\sim 10^{-38}-10^{-36}$ cm${}^2$ for certain `resonance dark matter mass' ranges. These stringent astrophysical constraints are complementary to the constraints obtained by the direct-detection experiments.

Comments: Accepted for publication in Physical Review D