Light dark matter in the NMSSM: upper bounds on direct detection cross sections

Abstract

In the Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model, a bino-like LSP can be as light as a few GeV and satisfy WMAP constraints on the dark matter relic density in the presence of a light CP-odd Higgs scalar. We study upper bounds on the direct detection cross sections for such a light LSP in the mass range 2 − 20GeV in the NMSSM, respecting all constraints from B-physics and LEP. The OPAL constraints on e + e − → χ 1 0 χ 0 (i > 1) play an important rôle and are discussed in some detail. The resulting upper bounds on the spin-independent and spin-dependent nucleon cross sections are ∼10−42 cm2 and ∼4 × 10−40 cm2, respectively. Hence the upper bound on the spin-independent cross section is below the DAMA and CoGeNT regions, but could be compatible with the two events observed by CDMS-II.