Neutralino dark matter in the NMSSM

Abstract

We analyse the direct detection of neutralino dark matter in the framework of the next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model. Taking into account all the available constraints from LEPII and Tevatron, including bounds from the muon anomalous magnetic moment and flavour constraint as b → sγ, we compute the neutralino–nucleon cross section and compare the results with the sensitivity of dark matter detectors. We also study the relic abundance of neutralinos, comparing it with WMAP observations. We show that a light singlet-like Higgs can escape accelerator constraints allowing for scenarios with large cross sections and a very interesting phenomenology.