Elastic vector and axial scattering of weakly interacting particles off nuclei

We analyze the elastic scattering of particles interacting with nuclei through vector and axial currents with overall couplings of the order of the Standard Model weak interaction, or smaller; the dominant contribution to the elastic cross section is identified as the coherent component and is therefore spin-independent. Differential and integrated cross sections are obtained for a wide range of incident particle masses and velocities and for nuclear targets with different masses; vector, axial and overall couplings of the incident particle and of the hadronic target to the massive exchanged boson are also kept general. This study naturally encompasses several kinds of possible dark matter components, including active and sterile neutrinos or neutralinos, and addresses the prospects for their direct detection through elastic scattering off nuclei.