Using the nuclear shell model we calculate the correction factor to the single-particle estimate of the spin-dependent elastic cross section on nuclei of dark matter. Our analysis shows that, depending upon the nucleus, the single-particle estimate of the figure of merit as defined by Ellis and Flores must be corrected by a factor which may be as large as an order of magnitude.

• Received 5 December 1988

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.40.2131