The first model independent results obtained by the DAMA/LIBRA-phase2 experiment are presented. The data have been collected over 6 annual cycles corresponding to a total exposure of 1.13 ton × yr, deep underground at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS) of the I.N.F.N. The DAMA/LIBRA-phase2 apparatus, ≃ 250 kg highly radio-pure NaI(Tl), profits from a second generation high quantum efficiency photomultipliers and of new electronics with respect to DAMA/LIBRA-phase1. The improved experimental configuration has also allowed to lower the software energy threshold. New data analysis strategies are presented. The DAMA/LIBRA-phase2 data confirm the evidence of a signal that meets all the requirements of the model independent Dark Matter (DM) annual modulation signature, at 9.5 σ C.L. in the energy region (1-6) keV. In the energy region between 2 and 6 keV, where data are also available from DAMA/NaI and DAMA/LIBRA-phase1 (exposure 1.33 ton × yr, collected over 14 annual cycles), the achieved C.L. for the full exposure (2.46 ton × yr) is 12.9 σ; the modulation amplitude of the single-hit scintillation events is: (0.0103 ± 0.0008) cpd/kg/keV, the measured phase is (145 ± 5) days and the measured period is (0.999 ± 0.001) yr, all these values are well in agreement with those expected for DM particles. No systematics or side reaction able to mimic the exploited DM signature (i.e. to account for the whole measured modulation amplitude and to simultaneously satisfy all the requirements of the signature), has been found or suggested by anyone throughout some decades thus far. 1

The first results obtained by the DAMA/LIBRA–phase2 experiment are presented. The data have been collected over six independent annual cycles corresponding to a total exposure of 1.13 ton × year, deep underground at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory. The DAMA/LIBRA–phase2 apparatus, about 250 kg highly radio-pure NaI(Tl), profits from a second generation high quantum efficiency photomultipliers and of new electronics with respect to DAMA/LIBRA–phase1. The improved experimental configuration has also allowed to lower the software energy threshold. The DAMA/LIBRA–phase2 data confirm the evidence of a signal that meets all the requirements of the model independent Dark Matter annual modulation signature, at 9.5 σ C.L. in the energy region (1–6) keV. In the energy region between 2 and 6 keV, where data are also available from DAMA/NaI and DAMA/LIBRA–phase1, the achieved C.L. for the full exposure (2.46 ton × year) is 12.9 σ .

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Anisotropic scintillators can offer a unique possibility to exploit the so-called directionality approach in order to investigate the presence of those Dark Matter (DM) candidates inducing nuclear recoils. In fact, their use can overcome the difficulty of detecting extremely short nuclear recoil traces. In this paper we present recent measurements performed on the anisotropic response of a ZnWO 4 crystal scintillator to nuclear recoils, in the framework of the ADAMO project. The anisotropic features of the ZnWO 4 crystal scintillators were initially measured with α particles; those results have been also confirmed by the additional measurements presented here. The experimental nuclear recoil data were obtained by using a neutron generator at ENEA-CASACCIA and neutron detectors to tag the scattered neutrons; in particular, the quenching factor values for nuclear recoils along different crystallographic axes have been determined for three different neutron scattering angles (i.e. nuclear recoils energies). From these measurements, the anisotropy of the light response for nuclear recoils in the ZnWO 4 crystal scintillator has been determined at 5.4 standard deviations.