Implications for relic neutralinos of the theoretical uncertainties in theneutralino-nucleon cross section

We discuss the effect induced on the neutralino-nucleon cross section by th e present uncertainties in the values of the quark masses and of the quark scalar densities in the nucleon. We examine the implications of this aspect on the determination of the neutralino cosmological properties, as derived from measurements of WIMP direct detection, We show that, within current t heoretical uncertainties, the DAMA annual modulation data are compatible wi th a neutralino as a major dark matter component, to an extent which is eve n larger than the one previously derived. We also comment on implications o f the mentioned uncertainties for experiments of indirect dark matter detec tion. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.