Quantifying astrophysical uncertainties on dark matter direct detection results

Abstract

We attempt to estimate the uncertainty in the constraints on the spin independent dark matter-nucleon cross section due to our lack of knowledge of the dark matter phase space in the galaxy. We fit the density of dark matter before investigating the possible solutions of the Jeans equation compatible with those fits in order to understand what velocity dispersions we might expect at the solar radius. We take into account the possibility of non-Maxwellian velocity distributions and the possible presence of a dark disk. Combining all these effects, we still find that the uncertainty in the interpretation of direct detection experiments for high (>100GeV) mass dark matter candidates is less than an order of magnitude in cross section.