Direct and indirect limits on the electro-magnetic form factors of WIMPs

We use the results of direct and indirect searches for weakly interacting m assive particles (WIMPs) to obtain bounds on various electro-magnetic form factors of WIMPs. The Limits on the recoil signal in underground dark matte r detection experiments, with standard assumptions about the density and r. m.s. velocity of WIMPs in the halo, can be translated into the following mo del-independent bounds on the magnetic dipole, electric dipole, quadrupole and anapole moments and the polarizability of WIMPs: mu/mu(n) < 1.4 . 10(-4 ), d < 5 . 10(-21) e cm, Q < 6 . 10(-7) fm(2), a/mu(n), < 3 . 10(-2) fm, an d chi < 5 . 10(-8) fm(3) for a WIMP mass of 100 GeV. The limits on fluxes o f highly energetic neutrinos produced in the annihilation of WIMPs in the c enter of the earth and the sun lead to somewhat stronger, but more model de pendent bounds. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.