Direct detection of dark matter in SU(5)xU(1) supergravity

Abstract

We compute the scattering rates for the lightest neutralino $\chi^0_1$ in the forthcoming germanium $(^{73}{\rm Ge}+^{76}{\rm Ge})$ detector and a proposed lead detector $(^{207}{\rm Pb})$, within the framework of $SU(5)\times U(1)$ supergravity. We find that in only a small portion ($\lsim10\%$) of the parameter spaces of this class of models, are the rates in the germanium detector above the expected initial experimental sensitivity of 0.1 events/kg/day. However, a much larger portion ($\lsim40\%$) of the parameter spaces could be probed with an improved background rejection capability (0.01 events/kg/day) and/or a more sensitive detector $(^{207}{\rm Pb})$.