A generalized Higgs potential with two degenerate minima for a dark QCD matter scenario

Matthias F M Lutz,Yonggoo Heo,Xiao-Yu Guo

doi:10.1140/epjc/s10052-020-7884-z

Abstract

We consider the Higgs potential in generalizations of the Standard Model. The possibility of the potential to develop two almost degenerate minima is explored. This would imply that QCD matter at two distinct sets of quark masses is relevant for astrophysics and cosmology. If in the exotic minimum the QCD matter ground state is electromagnetically neutral, dark matter may consist of QCD matter and antimatter in bubbles of the Higgs field. We predict an abundance of gamma rays in the few MeV region as messengers of dark matter regions in space. In addition the ratio of dark matter to normal matter is expected to show a time dependence.

Highlights

Dark-matter studies receive considerable attention in fundamental research
The possibility of the potential to develop two almost degenerate minima is explored. This would imply that QCD matter at two distinct sets of quark masses is relevant for astrophysics and cosmology
If in the exotic minimum the QCD matter ground state is electromagnetically neutral, dark matter may consist of QCD matter and antimatter in bubbles of the Higgs field

Summary

Introduction

Dark-matter studies receive considerable attention in fundamental research (see e.g. [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16]). Dark-matter studies receive considerable attention in fundamental research The purpose of our Letter is to discuss a possible alternative of such scenarios based on exotic QCD matter. In a recent work the authors presented a detailed study suggesting that QCD matter depends crucially on the Higgs field [17,18,19]. As a consequence, changing its ground state value does change the quark masses in QCD, in a manner that keeps all quark-mass ratios fixed. In [19] a possible first order transition along the Higgs field trajectory was discussed. It is compatible with current QCD lattice simulations of the baryon ground state masses, but should be scrutinized by further dedicated QCD lattice studies

The Higgs potential

Findings

Summary and conclusions