= Annual modulation in dark-matter direct detection
The Earth's changing velocity relative to a halo changes the recoil-rate integral above a detector threshold. Its phase and <energy> dependence depend on the velocity distribution and interaction, so a sinusoidal fit is a model approximation. Seasonal instrumental or environmental backgrounds can also vary annually; <energy> <radiation spectrum>, multiple-hit samples, time stability and independent targets help test a proposed dark-matter interpretation.
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