Caustics, Cold Flows, and Annual Modulation. (22nd August 2010)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Natarajan, Aravind
• Other Names: Fruchter Andrew Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Advances in astronomy. Volume 2011(2011)
• Publication Date: 2010-08-22
• Subjects: Astronomy -- Periodicals; Astronomy; Periodicals; 520
• DOI: 10.1155/2011/285346
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1687-7977

Abstract

Abstract : We discuss the formation of dark matter caustics, and their possible detection by future dark matter experiments. The annual modulation expected in the recoil rate measured by a dark matter detector is discussed. We consider the example of dark matter particles with a Maxwell-Boltzmann velocity distribution modified by a cold stream due to a nearby caustic. It is shown that the effect of the caustic flow is potentially detectable, even when the density enhancement due to the caustic is small. This makes the annual modulation effect an excellent probe of inner caustics. We also show that the phase of the annual modulation at low recoil energies does not constrain the particle mass unless the velocity distribution of particles in the solar neighborhood is known.