  We discuss the interpretation of the annual modulation signal seen in the
DAMA experiment in terms of spin-independent elastic WIMP scattering. Taking
into account channeling in the crystal as well as the spectral signature of the
modulation signal we find that the low-mass WIMP region consistent with DAMA
data is confined to WIMP masses close to $m_\chi \simeq 12$ GeV, in
disagreement with the constraints from CDMS and XENON. We conclude that even if
channeling is taken into account this interpretation of the DAMA modulation
signal is disfavoured. There are no overlap regions in the parameter space at
90% CL and a consistency test gives the probability of $1.2\times 10^{-5}$. We
study the robustness of this result with respect to variations of the WIMP
velocity distribution in our galaxy, by changing various parameters of the
distribution function, and by using the results of a realistic N-body dark
matter simulation. We find that only by making rather extreme assumptions
regarding halo properties can we obtain agreement between DAMA and CDMS/XENON.

High Energy Physics - Phenomenology;Astrophysics;High Energy Physics - Experiment