Abstract
We assess the status of a wide class of WIMP dark matter (DM) models in light of the latest experimental results using the global fitting framework GAMBIT. We perform a global analysis of effective field theory (EFT) operators describing the interactions between a gauge-singlet Dirac fermion and the Standard Model quarks, the gluons and the photon. In this bottom-up approach, we simultaneously vary the coefficients of 14 such operators up to dimension 7, along with the DM mass, the scale of new physics and several nuisance parameters. Our likelihood functions include the latest data from Planck, direct and indirect detection experiments, and the LHC. For DM masses below 100 GeV, we find that it is impossible to satisfy all constraints simultaneously while maintaining EFT validity at LHC energies. For new physics scales around 1 TeV, our results are influenced by several small excesses in the LHC data and depend on the prescription that we adopt to ensure EFT validity. Furthermore, we find large regions of viable parameter space where the EFT is valid and the relic density can be reproduced, implying that WIMPs can still account for the DM of the universe while being consistent with the latest data.
Highlights
Despite years of searching, the identity of dark matter (DM) remains a mystery
Given the potential for a rich dark sector containing χ, and in particular, the possibility of additional DM candidates not captured by the effective field theory (EFT), we will by default not demand that the particle χ constitutes all of the observed DM, i.e. we allow for the possibility of other DM species to contribute to the observed relic density
In this work we have presented the first global analysis of the full set of effective operators up to dimension 7 involving a Dirac fermion DM particle and quarks or gluons
Summary
The identity of dark matter (DM) remains a mystery. the large number of past, present and future probes of its particle interactions makes it essential to regularly revisit the constraints on the most popular theoretical candidates, in order to guide future searches. We exploit the computational power of the GAMBIT framework [48] to perform the first global analysis of a very general set of effective operators up to dimension 7 that describe the interactions between a Dirac fermion DM particle (or a DM sub-component) and quarks or gluons. Our analysis reveals viable parameter regions for general WIMP models across a wide range of new physics scales, including very small values of ( < 200 GeV), where there are no relevant LHC constraints and very large values of ( > 1.5 TeV), where LHC constraints are largely robust. The samples from our scans and the corresponding GAMBIT input files, and plotting scripts can be downloaded from Zenodo [66]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
