  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.
