Niels Bohr Lecture: Signals from the Universe: from DAMA/NaI to DAMA/LIBRA

Abstract

The highly radiopure about 250 kg NaI (T1) DAMA/LIBRA set-up is running at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory of the I.N.F.N..
Results exploiting the model independent annual modulation signature for Dark Matter particles in the galactic halo are presented (exposure of 0.53 ton x yr). The DAMA/LIBRA data confirm the evidence for the presence of Dark Matter particles in the galactic halo as observed by the former DAMA/NaI experiment.
The Combined analysis of the data of the two experiments (total exposure 0.82 ton x yr) gives a C.L. at 8.2 sigma.

About the speaker

The Milky Way rotates in a massive Dark Matter halo, and underground scattering experiments hold the possibility of measuring this Dark Matter halo directly.
The DAMA/LIBRA experiment is the first to claim direct detection of Dark Matter, at 8 sigma, using the annual modulation.
Prof. PierLuigi Belli is one of the key scientiest on this experiment, and he will present the observational evidence in favor of this possible first Dark Matter detection.