Puzzles of Dark Matter Searches in the Light of Dark Atoms

by Maxim Khlopov ((APC, Paris and Centre for Cosmoparticle Physics ’Cosmion’, Moscow)

Monday 7 Feb 2011, 14:00 → 15:00 Europe/Zurich

Cubotron 727 (EPFL)

Direct and indirect searches for dark matter lead to serious problems for simple models with stable neutral Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) as candidates for dark matter. A possibility is discussed that new stable quarks and charged leptons are bound in neutral dark atoms of composite dark matter. Stable -2 charged particles O−− are bound with primordial helium in O-helium atoms, being specific nuclear interacting form of composite dark matter. The positive results of DAMA experiments are explained as annual modulation of radiative capture of O-helium by sodium nuclei.
In the framework of this approach test of DAMA results in detectors with other chemical content becomes a nontrivial task.