Theoretical WIMP–Nucleus Scattering Rates for Isomeric Nuclei

Abstract

The direct detection of dark matter constituents, particularly weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), is central to particle physics and cosmology. In this paper, we develop the formalism for WIMP–nucleus-induced transitions from isomeric nuclear states, with particular focus on the experimentally interesting target 180Ta.

Keywords

• dark matter
• isomeric nuclei
• nuclear structure models and methods
• shell model
• collective models
• Nilsson model