Muon-induced neutrons do not explain the DAMA data

Abstract

We present an accurate model of the muon-induced background in the DAMA/LIBRA experiment. Our work challenges proposed mechanisms which seek to explain the observed DAMA signal modulation with muon-induced backgrounds. Muon generation and transport are performed using the MUSIC/MUSUN code, and subsequent interactions in the vicinity of the DAMA detector cavern are simulated with Geant4. We estimate the total muon-induced neutron flux in the detector cavern to be $Φ_n^ν= 1.0\times10^{-9}$ cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$. We predict $3.49\times10^{-5}$ counts/day/kg/keV, which accounts for less than $0.3\%$ of the DAMA signal modulation amplitude.

6 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in PRL