DIRECT VERSUS INDIRECT SEARCHES FOR NEUTRALINO DARK MATTER

Direct search for neutralino dark matter is analyzed in the framework of the minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model, using a realistic evaluation of the neutralino relic abundance which also includes radiative corrections to the Higgs masses. Relevance of the present (Ge detectors) experimental data to set constraints on the parameters of the model is discussed and expectations for future experiments which involve neutralino-nucleus coherent processes are investigated. These results are compared to those obtained in a previous paper from indirect search data. In the present analysis particular attention is paid to the theoretical uncertainties due to the different estimates of the Higgs-nucleon coupling strength.