Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Progress Article
  • Published:

Current status of direct dark matter detection experiments

Nature Physics volume 13, pages 212–216 (2017)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Much like ordinary matter, dark matter might consist of elementary particles, and weakly interacting massive particles are one of the prime suspects. During the past decade, the sensitivity of experiments trying to directly detect them has improved by three to four orders of magnitude, but solid evidence for their existence is yet to come. We overview the recent progress in direct dark matter detection experiments and discuss future directions.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1: Upper limits on the spin-independent (SI) WIMP–nucleon scattering cross-section set by current leading experiments.
Figure 2: Upper limits on the spin-dependent (SD) WIMP–proton scattering cross-section set by different experiments.
Figure 3: Upper limits on the spin-dependent WIMP–neutron scattering cross-section set by different xenon-based experiments.
Figure 4: The projected sensitivity (dashed curves) on the spin-independent WIMP–nucleon cross-sections of a selected number of upcoming and planned direct detection experiments, including XENON1T34, PandaX-4T, XENONnT34, LZ35, DARWIN36 or PandaX-30T, and SuperCDMS56.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bertone, G., Hooper, D. & Silk, J. Particle dark matter: evidence, candidates and constraints. Phys. Rep. 405, 279–390 (2005).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Savage, C., Freese, K. & Gondolo, P. Annual modulation of dark matter in the presence of streams. Phys. Rev. D 74, 043531 (2006).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Jungman, G., Kamionkowski, M. & Griest, K. Supersymmetric dark matter. Phys. Rep. 267, 195–373 (1996).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Smith, M. C. et al. The RAVE survey: constraining the local galactic escape speed. Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 379, 755–772 (2007).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Peccei, R. D. & Quinn, H. R. CP conservation in the presence of instantons. Phys. Rev. Lett. 38, 1440–1443 (1977).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Wilczek, F. Problem of strong P and T invariance in the presence of instantons. Phys. Rev. Lett. 40, 279–282 (1978).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Kim, J. E. Light pseudoscalars, particle physics and cosmology. Phys. Rep. 150, 1–177 (1987).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. Marsh, D. J. E. Axion cosmology. Phys. Rep. 643, 1–79 (2016).

    Article  ADS  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  9. Gaskins, J. M. A review of indirect searches for particle dark matter. Contemp. Phys. 57, 496–525 (2016).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. Lewin, J. D. & Smith, P. F. Review of mathematics, numerical factors, and corrections for dark matter experiments based on elastic nuclear recoil. Astropart. Phys. 6, 87–112 (1996).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. Strigari, L. E. Neutrino coherent scattering rates at direct dark matter detectors. New J. Phys. 11, 105011 (2009).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. Gutlein, A. et al. Solar and atmospheric neutrinos: background sources for the direct dark matter search. Astropart. Phys. 34, 90–96 (2010).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Ruppin, F., Billard, J., Figueroa-Feliciano, E. & Strigari, L. Complementarity of dark matter detectors in light of the neutrino background. Phys. Rev. D 90, 083510 (2014).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. Dedes, A., Giomataris, I., Suxho, K. & Vergados, J. D. Searching for secluded dark matter via direct detection of recoiling nuclei as well as low energy electrons. Nucl. Phys. B 826, 148–173 (2010).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. Gaitskell, R. J. Direct detection of dark matter. Annu. Rev. Nucl. Part. Sci. 54, 315–359 (2004).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. Bernabei, R. et al. Final model independent result of DAMA/LIBRA-phase1. Eur. Phys. J. C 73, 2648 (2013).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. Aalseth, C. E. et al. (CoGeNT Collaboration) CoGeNT: a search for low-mass dark matter using p-type point contact germanium detectors. Phys. Rev. D 88, 012002 (2013).

  18. Angloher, G. et al. Results from 730 kg days of the CRESST-II Dark Matter Search. Eur. Phys. J. C 72, 1971 (2012).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. Agnese, R. et al. (CDMS Collaboration) Silicon detector dark matter results from the final exposure of CDMS II. Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 251301 (2013).

  20. Billard, J., Strigari, L. & Figueroa-Feliciano, E. Implication of neutrino backgrounds on the reach of next generation dark matter direct detection experiments. Phys. Rev. D 89, 023524 (2014).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. Bagnaschi, E. A. et al. Supersymmetric dark matter after LHC Run 1. Eur. Phys. J. C 75, 500 (2015).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. Angle, J. et al. (XENON Collaboration) First results from the XENON10 dark matter experiment at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory. Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 021303 (2008).

  23. Aprile, E. et al. (XENON100 Collaboration) Limits on spin-dependent WIMP-nucleon cross sections from 225 live days of XENON100 data. Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 021301 (2013).

  24. Akerib, D. S. et al. (LUX Collaboration) First results from the LUX dark matter experiment at the Sanford Underground Research Facility. Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 091303 (2014).

  25. Akerib, D. S. et al. (LUX Collaboration) Improved limits on scattering of weakly interacting massive particles from reanalysis of 2013 LUX data. Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 161301 (2016).

  26. Tan, A. et al. (PandaX-II Collaboration) Dark matter results from first 98.7 days of data from the PandaX-II experiment. Phys. Rev. Lett. 117, 121303 (2016).

  27. Aprile, E. et al. Liquid xenon detectors for particle physics and astrophysics. Rev. Mod. Phys. 82, 2053–2097 (2010).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  28. Akerib, D. S. et al. (LUX Collaboration) The Large Underground Xenon (LUX) experiment. Nucl. Instrum. Methods A 704, 111–126 (2013).

  29. Mei, D. & Hime, A. Muon-induced background study for underground laboratories. Phys. Rev. D 73, 053004 (2006).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  30. Akerib, D. S. et al. (LUX Collaboration) Results from a search for dark matter in the complete LUX exposure. Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 021303 (2017).

  31. Tan, A. et al. (PandaX Collaboration) Dark matter search results from the commissioning run of PandaX-II. Phys. Rev. D 93, 122009 (2016).

  32. Kang, K. J. et al. Status and prospects of a deep underground laboratory in China. J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 203, 012028 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Aprile, E. et al. (XENON100 Collaboration) XENON100 dark matter results from a combination of 477 live days. Phys. Rev. D 94, 122001 (2016).

  34. Aprile, E. et al. (XENON Collaboration) Physics reach of the XENON1T dark matter experiment. J. Cosmol. Astropart. Phys. 1604, 027 (2016).

  35. Akerib, D. S. et al. (LZ Collaboration) LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) conceptual design report. Preprint at http://arxiv.org/abs/1509.02910 (2015).

  36. Aalbers, J. et al. (DARWIN Collaboration) DARWIN: towards the ultimate dark matter detector. J. Cosmol. Astropart. Phys. 1611, 017 (2016).

  37. Minamino, A. (XMASS Collaboration) XMASS experiment, dark matter search with liquid xenon detector. Nucl. Instrum. Methods A 623, 448–450 (2010).

  38. Abe, K. (XMASS Collaboration) XMASS experiment. AIP Conf. Proc. 1743, 050001 (2016).

  39. Ichimura, K. (XMASS Collaboration) XMASS 1.5, the next step of the XMASS experiment. In The 34th International Cosmic Ray Conf. 1223 (Proceedings of Science, 2015).

  40. Wright, A. (DarkSide Collaboration) The DarkSide Program at LNGS 414–420 (Astroparticle, Particle, Space Physics and Detectors for Physics Applications, 2012).

  41. Agnes, P. et al. (DarkSide Collaboration) First results from the DarkSide-50 Dark matter experiment at Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso. Phys. Lett. B 743, 456–466 (2015).

  42. Agnes, P. et al. (DarkSide Collaboration) Results from the first use of low radioactivity argon in a dark matter search. Phys. Rev. D 93, 081101 (2016).

  43. Davini, S. (DarkSide Collaboration) The DarkSide awakens. J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 718, 042016 (2016).

  44. Amaudruz, P.-A. et al. (DEAP Collaboration) DEAP-3600 dark matter search. Nucl. Part. Phys. Proc. 273–275, 340–346 (2016).

  45. Amaudruz, P.-A. et al. Measurement of the scintillation time spectra and pulse-shape discrimination of low-energy beta and nuclear recoils in liquid argon with DEAP-1. Astropart. Phys. 85, 1–23 (2016).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  46. Fatemighomi, N. (DEAP-3600 Collaboration) DEAP-3600 dark matter experiment. Preprint at http://arxiv.org/abs/1609.07990 (2016).

  47. Agnese, R. et al. (SuperCDMS Collaboration) Search for low-mass weakly interacting massive particles with SuperCDMS. Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 241302 (2014).

  48. Agnese, R. et al. (SuperCDMS Collaboration) New results from the search for low-mass weakly interacting massive particles with the CDMS low ionization threshold experiment. Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 071301 (2016).

  49. Kang, K.-J. et al. (CDEX Collaboration) Introduction to the CDEX experiment. Front. Phys. 8, 412–437 (2013).

  50. Zhao, W. et al. (CDEX Collaboration) Search of low-mass WIMPs with a p-type point contact germanium detector in the CDEX-1 experiment. Phys. Rev. D 93, 092003 (2016).

  51. Aalseth, C. E. et al. (CoGeNT Collaboration) Results from a search for light-mass dark matter with a P-type point contact germanium detector. Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 131301 (2011).

  52. Barreto, J. et al. (DAMIC Collaboration) Direct search for low mass dark matter particles with CCDs. Phys. Lett. B 711, 264–269 (2012).

  53. Aguilar-Arevalo, A. et al. (DAMIC Collaboration) Search for low-mass WIMPs in a 0.6 kg day exposure of the DAMIC experiment at SNOLAB. Phys. Rev. D 94, 082006 (2016).

  54. Bravin, M. et al. (CRESST Collaboration) The CRESST dark matter search. Astropart. Phys. 12, 107–114 (1999).

  55. Angloher, G. et al. (CRESST Collaboration) Results on light dark matter particles with a low-threshold CRESST-II detector. Eur. Phys. J. C 76, 25 (2016).

  56. Agnese, R. et al. (SuperCDMS Collaboration) Projected sensitivity of the SuperCDMS SNOLAB experiment. Preprint at http://arxiv.org/abs/1610.00006 (2016).

  57. Strauss, R. et al. The CRESST-III low-mass WIMP detector. J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 718, 042048 (2016).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Alexander, J. et al. Dark sectors 2016 workshop: community report. Preprint at http://arxiv.org/abs/1608.08632 (2016)

  59. Amole, C. et al. (PICO Collaboration) Dark matter search results from the PICO-2L C3F8 bubble chamber. Phys. Rev. Lett. 114, 231302 (2015).

  60. Amole, C. et al. (PICO Collaboration) Dark matter search results from the PICO-60 CF3I bubble chamber. Phys. Rev. D 93, 052014 (2016).

  61. Amole, C. et al. (PICO Collaboration) Improved dark matter search results from PICO-2L Run 2. Phys. Rev. D 93, 061101 (2016).

  62. Akerib, D. S. et al. (LUX Collaboration) Results on the spin-dependent scattering of weakly interacting massive particles on nucleons from the Run 3 data of the LUX experiment. Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 161302 (2016).

  63. Fu, C. B. et al. (PandaX Collaboration) Spin-dependent WIMP-nucleon cross section limits from first data of PandaX-II experiment. Preprint at http://arxiv.org/abs/1611.06553 (2016).

  64. Mayet, F. et al. A review of the discovery reach of directional Dark Matter detection. Phys. Rep. 627, 1–49 (2016).

    Article  ADS  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work is supported by grants from the National Science Foundation of China (Nos. 11435008, 11455001, 11505112 and 11525522), a grant from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (Grant No. 2016YFA0400301), and in part by the Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Particle Physics (CCEPP), the Key Laboratory for Particle Physics, Astrophysics and Cosmology, Ministry of Education, and Shanghai Key Laboratory for Particle Physics and Cosmology (SKLPPC). Finally, we thank the Hong Kong Hongwen Foundation for financial support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, INPAC, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China

    Jianglai Liu, Xun Chen & Xiangdong Ji

  2. Tsung-Dao Lee Institute, Shanghai 200240, China

    Xiangdong Ji

  3. Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA

    Xiangdong Ji

Authors
  1. Jianglai Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xun Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Xiangdong Ji
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xiangdong Ji.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Liu, J., Chen, X. & Ji, X. Current status of direct dark matter detection experiments. Nature Phys 13, 212–216 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys4039

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys4039

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing