Title:
Spin-dependent WIMP scattering off nuclei

Abstract:
More than 20% of the energy density of our universe is dark matter.
However, its specific composition remains unknown,
and promising candidates have been proposed in extensions of the
Standard Model, such as weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs).
This has spurred direct detection of cold dark matter via scattering
off nuclei, requiring detailed knowledge of the response to WIMP
induced currents in nuclei, as well as a precise description of
these nuclei.

I will discuss recent results of the structure factor for
spin-dependent WIMP scattering off nuclei, that have recently been
obtained using chiral effective field theory to describe the coupling
of WIMPs to nucleons, and state-of-the-art Shell Model calculations
to characterize the nuclei involved.