We consider the cross section limits for light dark matter cadnidates ($m=0.4$ to 10 GeV). We calculate the interaction of dark matter in the crust above underground dark matter detectors and find that in the intermediate cross section range, the energy loss of dark matter is sufficient to fall below the energy threshold of current underground experiments. This implies the existence of a window in the dark matter exclusion limits in the micro-barn range.

• Received 7 July 2004

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.72.083502