Realistic predictions for the detection of supersymmetric dark matter

We present new predictions for the detection of supersymmetric dark matter via its annihilation in the Sun and elastic scattering off heavy nuclei in the laboratory. Our predictions include many effects found in realistic models such as non-degenerate left- and right-squark masses, unequal supersymmetric Higgs v.e.v.s and photino/higgsino/zino mixing in the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP). Hadronic matrix elements are estimated using either the naive quark model or the EMC measurement of the spin-dependent proton structure function and perturbative QCD. Nuclear matrix elements are calculated using the shell-model and the small effects of quark vector current operators are discussed. Previous predictions for the elastic LSP-proton scattering cross section, and hence for high energy solar neutrinos from LSP annihilations, are reduced by the EMC estimate and by unequal squark masses, but may be increased by unequal Higgs v.e.v.s. Previous predictions for elastic photino scattering off nuclei with unpaired neutrons are greatly enhanced by the EMC estimate. As a result, preferences for the nuclei to be used in laboratory experiments to detect supersymmetric dark matter may be greatly altered.