Search

Development of low radioactive technique allows to investigate many other rare nuclear and subnuclear processes: double decay, rare and decays, and to search for hypothetical particles and processes like axions, charge nonconserving decays, the nucleon, di-nucleon and tri-nucleon decays into invisible channels, to test the Pauli principle. Here, we present results of the rare processes searches and development of instrumentation for low counting experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental observations and theoretical arguments at Galaxy and larger scales have suggested that a large fraction of the Universe is composed by Dark Matter (DM) particles. This has motivated the DAMA experimental efforts to investigate the presence of such particles in the galactic halo by exploiting a model independent signature with highly radiopure setups deep underground. In this paper, a review of the results obtained with the total exposure of 1.04 ton × yr collected by DAMA/LIBRA-phase1 deep underground at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS) of the INFN during seven annual cycles is given. The DAMA/LIBRA-phase1 data give evidence for the presence of DM particles in the galactic halo, on the basis of the exploited model independent DM annual modulation signature by using highly radiopure NaI(Tl) target, at 7.5 C.L. Including also the data of the first generation DAMA/NaI experiment (cumulative exposure 1.33 ton × yr, corresponding to 14 annual cycles), the C.L. is 9.3 and the modulation amplitude of the single-hit scintillation events in the (2-6) keV energy interval is: (0.0112 ± 0.0012) cpd/kg/keV; the measured phase is (144 ± 7) days and the measured period is (0.998 ± 0.002) yr, values well in agreement with those expected for DM particles. No systematic or side reaction able to mimic the exploited DM signature has been found or suggested by anyone over more than a decade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The DAMA/LIBRA-phase1 and the former DAMA/NaI data (cumulative exposure 1.33 ton yr, corresponding to 14 annual cycles) give evidence at 9.3 C.L. for the presence of Dark Matter (DM) particles in the galactic halo, on the basis of the exploited model independent DM annual modulation signature by using highly radio-pure NaI(Tl) target. Results and comparisons will be shortly recalled. Recent analyses on possible diurnal effects and on the Earth shadowing effect (the latter holds only for some DM candidates) will be mentioned. The analysis of the time distribution of the low-energy single-hit events in DAMA/LIBRA-phase1 is reported for the first time. Finally, some perspectives of the presently running DAMA/LIBRA-phase2 will be mentioned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental observations and theoretical arguments at Galaxy and larger scales have suggested that a large fraction of the Universe is composed by Dark Matter particles. This has motivated the DAMA experimental efforts to investigate the presence of such particles in the galactic halo by exploiting a model independent signature and very highly radiopure setup in deep underground. Few introductory arguments are summarized before presenting a review of the present model independent positive results obtained by the DAMA/NaI and DAMA/LIBRA setups at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory of the INFN. Implications and model dependent comparisons with other different kinds of results will be shortly addressed. Some arguments put forward in literature will be confuted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]