Correct Relic Density Research Articles

Freeze-in as a complementary process to freeze-out

There are many extensions of the Standard Model with a dark matter (DM) candidate obtained via the freeze-out mechanism. It can happen that after all experimental and theoretical constraints are taken into account, all parameter points have a relic density below the experimentally measured value. This means that the models solve only partially the DM problem, and at least one more candidate is needed. In this work we show that it is possible to further extend the model with a DM candidate obtained via the freeze-in mechanism to be in agreement with the relic density experimental measurement. Once the relic density problem is solved with this addition, new questions are raised. This new model with at least two DM candidates could have a freeze-out undetectable DM particle both in direct and indirect detection. This could happen if the freeze-out DM particle would have a very low density. Hence, a collider DM hint via excess in the missing energy with no correspondence in direct and indirect detection experiments, could signal the existence of a Feebly Interacting Massive Particle (FIMP). Conversely, if a DM particle is found and a particular model can explain all observables except the correct relic density, an extension with an extra FIMP would solve the problem. The freeze-in DM candidate, due to the small portal couplings, will not change the remaining phenomenology.

Reconciling cosmological tensions with inelastic dark matter and dark radiation in a U(1) D framework

We propose a novel and comprehensive particle physics framework that addresses multiple cosmological tensions observed in recent measurements of the Hubble parameter, S 8, and Lyman-α forest data. Our model, termed `SIDR+z t ' (Self Interacting Dark Radiation with transition redshift), is based on an inelastic dark matter (IDM) scenario coupled with dark radiation, governed by a U(1) D gauge symmetry. This framework naturally incorporates cold dark matter (DM), strongly interacting dark radiation (SIDR), and the interactions between these components. The fluid-like behavior of the dark radiation component which originates from the self-quartic coupling of the U(1) D breaking scalar can suppress the free-streaming effects. Simultaneously, the interacting DM-DR system can attenuate the matter power spectrum at small scales. The inelastic nature of DM provides a distinct temperature dependence for the DM-DR interaction rate determined by the mass-splitting between the inelastic dark fermions which is crucial for resolving the Ly-α discrepancies. We present a cosmologically consistent analysis of the model by solving the relevant Boltzmann equations to obtain the energy density and number density evolution of different species of the model. The DR undergoes two “steps” of increased energy density when the heavier dark species freeze out and become non-relativistic, transferring their entropy to the dark radiation and enhancing ΔN eff. The analysis showcases the model's potential to uphold the Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) prediction of ΔN eff but dominantly producing additional contributions prior to recombination, while simultaneously achieving correct relic density of DM though an hybrid of freeze-in and non-thermal production.

Matter asymmetries in the ZN dark matter-companion models

A class of ZN≥3-symmetric WIMP dark matter models that are characterized by the semi-annihilation into the companion of dark matter has been proposed in ref. [1], providing a mechanism to evade the stringent direct detection constraint. In this work, we point out that such models naturally provide the three Sakharov elements necessary for dark matter asymmetry, and moreover this asymmetry can be transferred to the visible sector with a proper link to the leptonic or quark sector. In our minimal Z3 example, the migration to the leptonic sector is via the asymmetric companion decay into neutrinos, and the lepton asymmetry can be further transferred to the quark sector. The CP violation parameter is restrained in this model. Thus, we explore the thermal motion effect of dark matter and find that it gives an enhancement to the CP violation parameter, which is studied for the first time. A preliminary numerical analysis based on the Boltzmann equations shows that both correct relic density of dark matter and baryon asymmetry can be accommodated.

Investigating higgsino dark matter in the semi-constrained NMSSM* *Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (12275066, 11605123)

In this study, we explored the characteristics of higgsino-dominated dark matter (DM) within the semi-constrained Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (scNMSSM), covering a mass range from hundreds of GeV to several TeV. We carefully analyzed the parameter space under existing theoretical and experimental constraints to confirm the viability of higgsino-dominated lightest supersymmetric particles (LSPs) with masses between 100 GeV and 4 TeV. Our study examined various DM annihilation mechanisms, emphasizing the significant role of coannihilation with the next-to-lightest supersymmetric particle (NLSP), which includes other higgsino-dominated particles such as and . We categorize the annihilation processes into three main classes: coannihilation, Higgs funnel annihilation, and coannihilation. Each class combines interactions with . Our results indicate that achieving the correct relic density in heavier higgsino LSPs requires a combination of coannihilation and Higgs funnel mechanisms. We also assessed the potential of future experiments, such as XENONnT, LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ), PandaX-xT, and the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA), to probe these DM scenarios through direct and indirect detections. In particular, future spin-independent DM detections may cover all samples with the correct DM relic density for GeV. Furthermore, future colliders such as the International Linear Collider (ILC) and Compact Linear Collider (CLIC) are expected to exceed the detection capabilities of current hadron colliders, especially for higher mass NLSPs. Notably, CLIC, which will operate at 3000 GeV, is anticipated to enable thorough investigation of all samples with insufficient DM relic density for GeV.

Indirect probe of electroweak-interacting particles at the μTRISTAN μ+μ+ collider

A novel collider, called μTRISTAN, was recently proposed, offering the capability to achieve high-energy collisions of antimuons. This high-energy collider presents an exceptional opportunity for the discovery of electroweak-interacting massive particles (EWIMPs), which are predicted by various new physics models. In a lepton collider like μTRISTAN, the potential for discovering EWIMPs extends beyond their direct production. Quantum corrections arising from EWIMP loops can significantly enhance our prospects for discovery by precise measurement of Standard Model processes. This study focuses on the indirect detection method within the μTRISTAN experiment, with a specific emphasis on TeV-scale EWIMP dark matter scenarios that yield the correct thermal relic density. At collision energies for s=O(1–10) TeV, these EWIMPs introduce noticeable effects, typically in the range of O(0.1–1)%. Our findings indicate that at s=2(10) TeV, with an integrated luminosity of 10 ab−1, μTRISTAN can detect Higgsinos at a mass of 1.3 (3.0) TeV and winos at a mass of 1.9 (4.4) TeV, assuming an optimistic level of systematic uncertainty in the observation of the Standard Model processes. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Interpreting 95 GeV di-photon/bb¯\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ b\\overline{b} $$\\end{document} excesses as a lightest Higgs boson of the MRSSM

The Minimal R-symmetric Supersymmetric Standard Model (MRSSM) is a well motivated BSM model which can accommodate the observed 125 GeV Higgs boson in agreement with electroweak precision observables, in particular with the W boson mass and T parameter. In the 2016 paper we showed that the SM-like 125 GeV Higgs state can be also realised as the second-to-lightest scalar of the MRSSM, leaving room for another sub-100 GeV state. Motivated by the recent ATLAS and CMS observation of the di-photon excess at a mass of around 95 GeV we investigate the possibility whether this could be the lightest CP-even MRSSM scalar in a variation of our benchmarks presented in the 2016 work. We show that such a state can also simultaneously explain the excess in the bb¯\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ b\\overline{b} $$\\end{document} final state observed around the same mass value at LEP. Due to the R-symmetric nature of the model, a light singlet-like Higgs state leads necessarily to a light bino-singlino Dirac dark matter candidate, which can give a correct relic density while evading current experimental bounds. Dark matter and LHC searches place further bounds on this scenario and point to parameter regions which are viable and of interest for the LHC Run III and upcoming dark matter experiments.

Thermal and non-thermal DM production in non-standard cosmologies: a mini review

We provide a short review of some aspects of dark matter (DM) production in non-standard cosmology. Considering the simplest Higgs portal model as a definite particle physics setup, we consider the impact on the parameter space corresponding to the correct relic density and the complementary experimental constraints of the presence, during thermal production, of an exotic component dominating the energy density of the universe. In the second part of the work, we will focus on the case that such an exotic component satisfies the equation of state of matter and can produce DM non-thermally.

Impact of the LZ experiment on the DM phenomenology and naturalness in the MSSM

This paper uses approximate analytical formulas and numerical results with the bino-dominated dark matter (DM) as an example to analyze the impact of the LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiment on the DM phenomenology and naturalness in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM). We conclude that the limitation of the latest LZ experiment worsens the naturalness of the MSSM, as the predictions of the Z-boson mass and DM relic density demonstrate, particularly in the regions where the correct DM relic density is obtained by the Z- or h-mediated resonant annihilations.

Self-interacting forbidden dark matter under a cannibally co-decaying phase

In a usual dark matter (DM) model without a huge mass difference between the DM and lighter mediator, using the coupling strength suitable for having the correct relic density, the resulting self-interaction becomes several orders of magnitude smaller than that required to interpret the small-scale structures. We present a framework that can offer a solution for this point. We consider a model that contains the vector DM and a heavier but unstable Higgs-like scalar in the hidden sector. When the temperature drops below ~ mDM, the hidden sector, which is thermally decoupled from the visible sector, enters a cannibal phase, during which the DM density is depleted with the out-of-equilibrium decay of the scalar. The favored parameter region, giving the correct relic density and the proper size of self-interactions, shows the scalar-to-DM mass ratio ∈ [1.1, 1.33] and the scalar mass ∈ [9, 114] MeV. A sizable parameter space still survives the most current constraints and can be further probed by the near future NA62 beam dump experiment.

Peccei-Quinn inflation at the pole and axion kinetic misalignment

We propose a minimal extension of the Standard Model with the Peccei-Quinn (PQ) scalar field and explain the relic density of the QCD axion through the kinetic misalignment with a relatively small axion decay constant. To this purpose, we consider a slow-roll inflation from the radial component of the PQ field with the PQ conserving potential near the pole of its kinetic term and investigate the post-inflationary dynamics of the PQ field for reheating. The angular mode of the PQ field, identified with the QCD axion, receives a nonzero velocity during inflation due to the PQ violating potential, evolving with an approximately conserved Noether PQ charge. We determine the reheating temperature from the perturbative decays and scattering processes of the inflaton and obtain dark radiation from the axions produced from the inflaton scattering at a testable level in the future Cosmic Microwave Background experiments. We show the correlation between the reheating temperature, the initial velocity of the axion and the axion decay constant, realizing the axion kinetic misalignment for the correct relic density.

Nmssm with correct relic density and an additional 95 GeV Higgs boson

We investigate whether it is possible within the NMSSM to describe simultaneously a correct dark matter relic density complying with the latest null results from the LZ experiment, an extra Higgs boson with a mass of ∼95\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\sim 95$$\\end{document} GeV visible in the bb channel at LEP and the diphoton channel at the LHC, and the deviation of the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon from its value within the Standard Model. We find that this is still possible for a variety of dark matter annihilation mechanisms, for singlino-like but also bino-like lightest supersymmetric particles. We show the signal rates of the extra Higgs boson and the dark matter detection rates as function of the dark matter mass and annihilation mechanism. The dark matter direct detection cross section may well fall below the neutrino floor. The masses of the lightest electroweakly interacting supersymmetric particles are typically not far above 100 GeV, but not excluded due to unconventional decays.

Quantum gravity effects on fermionic dark matter and gravitational waves

We explore the phenomenological consequences of breaking discrete global symmetries in quantum gravity (QG). We extend a previous scenario where discrete global symmetries are responsible for scalar dark matter (DM) and domain walls (DWs), to the case of fermionic DM, considered as a feebly interacting massive particle, which achieves the correct DM relic density via the freeze-in mechanism. Due to the mixing between DM and the standard model neutrinos, various indirect DM detection methods can be employed to constrain the QG scale, the scale of freeze-in, and the reheating temperature simultaneously. Since such QG symmetry breaking leads to DW annihilation, this may generate the characteristic gravitational wave background, and hence explain the recent observations of the gravitational wave spectrum by pulsar timing arrays. This work therefore highlights a tantalizing possibility of probing the effective scale of QG from observations.

On the possibility of mixed axion/neutralino dark matter in specific SUSY DFSZ axion models

We introduce four supersymmetric (SUSY) axion models in which the strong CP problem and the μ problem are solved with the help of the Peccei–Quinn mechanism and the Kim-Nilles mechanism, respectively. The axion physics enriches the SUSY model by introducing axion as a dark matter candidate and, therefore, the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP) could just be a part of the total dark matter. For this reason, axion relieves the tensions between SUSY models and numerous experimental measurements, such as the dark matter direct detection experiments and the precise measurements of anomalous magnetic moment of the muon a μ . In the present paper, we investigate the constraints imposed by the latest a μ measurements and LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiment on the relic density of the Higgsino-like LSP. Additionally, we consider the constraints arising from the cosmology of saxions and axinos, and their impacts on the parameter space of our models are carefully examined. For the axion constituting the remaining portion of dark matter, we find that the conventional misalignment mechanism can successfully account for the correct dark matter relic density observed by the Planck satellite.

Anatomy of diluted dark matter in the minimal left-right symmetric model

Temporary matter domination and late entropy dilution, injected by a “long-lived” particle in the early Universe, serves as a standard mechanism for yielding the correct dark matter relic density. We recently pointed out the cosmological significance of diluting particle’s partial decay into dark matter. When repopulated in such a way, dark matter carries higher momentum than its thermal counterpart, resulting in a suppression of the linear matter power spectrum that is constrained by the large scale structure observations. In this work, we study the impact of such constraints on the minimal left-right symmetric model that accounts for the origin of neutrino mass. We map out a systematic anatomy of possible dilution scenarios with viable parameter spaces, allowed by cosmology and various astrophysical and terrestrial constraints. We show that to accommodate the observed dark matter relic abundance the spontaneous left-right symmetry breaking scale must be above PeV and cosmology will continue to provide the most sensitive probes of it. In case the dilutor is one of the heavier right-handed neutrinos, it can be much lighter and lie near the electroweak scale. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Ruling out models of vector dark matter in asymptotically safe quantum gravity

The nature of dark matter is a problem with too many potential solutions. We investigate whether a consistent embedding into quantum gravity can decimate the number of solutions to the dark-matter problem. Concretely, we focus on a hidden sector composed of a gauge field and a charged scalar, with gauge group U(1)D or SU(2)D. The gauge field is the dark matter candidate, if the gauge symmetry is broken spontaneously. Phenomenological constraints on the couplings in this model arise from requiring that the correct dark matter relic density is produced via thermal freeze-out and that recent bounds from direct-detection experiments are respected. We find that the consistent embedding into asymptotically safe quantum gravity gives rise to additional constraints on the couplings at the Planck scale, from which we calculate corresponding constraints at low energy scales. We discover that phenomenological constraints cannot be satisfied simultaneously with theoretical constraints from asymptotically safe quantum gravity, ruling out these dark matter models. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Recycled dark matter

Abstract We outline a new production mechanism for dark matter that we dub “recycling”: dark sector particles are kinematically trapped in the false vacuum during a dark phase transition; the false pockets collapse into primordial black holes (PBHs), which ultimately evaporate before Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) to reproduce the dark sector particles. The requirement that all PBHs evaporate prior to BBN necessitates high scale phase transitions and hence high scale masses for the dark sector particles in the true vacuum. Our mechanism is therefore particularly suited for the production of ultra heavy dark matter (UHDM) with masses above ∼ 1012 GeV. The correct relic density of UHDM is obtained because of the exponential suppression of the false pocket number density. Recycled UHDM has several novel features: the dark sector today consists of multiple decoupled species that were once in thermal equilibrium and the PBH formation stage has extended mass functions whose shape can be controlled by IR operators coupling the dark and visible sectors.

Extending preferred axion models via heavy-quark induced early matter domination

We examine the cosmological consequences of the heavy quarks in KSVZ-type axion models. We find that their presence often causes an early matter domination phase, altering the evolution of the Universe. This extends the axion mass into the region where standard cosmology leads to overproduction, and allows for a greater number of axion models with non-renormalizable terms to be viable. Quantitatively, we find that decays proceeding through effective terms of up to dimension 9 (d = 9) remain consistent with cosmological constraints, in contrast with the result d ≤ 5 previously found in the literature. As a consequence, the heavy quarks can be much heavier and the axion mass window with the correct relic density for dark matter is extended by orders of magnitude, down to ma ≈ 6 × 10-9 eV. This is achieved without resorting to fine-tuning of the initial misalignment angle, bolstering the motivation for many future axion haloscope experiments. Additionally, we explore how these models can be probed through measurements of the number of relativistic degrees of freedom at recombination.

Dark Matter Direct Detection in 𝗍-channel mediator models

We perform a comprehensive study of the Direct Detection phenomenology of singlet Dark Matter t-channel portal models. For that purpose, we present a complete one-loop matching onto a Heavy Dark-Matter Effective Field Theory, leading to a complete computation of the loop induced Direct Detection cross-section for both scalar and fermionic Dark Matter candidates. The results are compared with current and future bounds from Direct Detection experiments, as well as with the requirement of the correct Dark Matter relic density.

Probing a dark sector with collider physics, direct detection, and gravitational waves

We assess the complementarity between colliders, direct detection searches, and gravitational wave interferometry in probing a scenario of dark matter in the early universe. The model under consideration contains a B−L gauge symmetry and a vector-like fermion which acts as the dark matter candidate. The fermion induces significant a large dark matter-nucleon scattering rate, and the Z′ field produces clear dilepton events at colliders. Thus, direct detection experiments and colliders severely constrain the parameter space in which the correct relic density is found in agreement with the data. Nevertheless, little is known about the new scalar responsible for breaking the B-L symmetry. If this breaking occurs via a first-order phase transition at a TeV scale, it could lead to gravitational waves in the mHz frequency range detectable by LISA, DECIGO, and BBO instruments. The spectrum is highly sensitive to properties of the scalar sector and gauge coupling. We show that a possible GW detection, together with information from colliders and direct detection experiments, can simultaneously pinpoint the scalar self-coupling, and narrow down the dark matter mass where a thermal relic is viable.

Positivity bounds on Higgs-portal freeze-in dark matter

We consider the relic density and positivity bounds for freeze-in scalar dark matter with general Higgs-portal interactions up to dimension-8 operators. When dimension-4 and dimension-6 Higgs-portal interactions are proportional to mass squares for Higgs or scalar dark matter in certain microscopic models such as massive graviton, radion or general metric couplings with conformal and disformal modes, we can take the dimension-8 derivative Higgs-portal interactions to be dominant for determining the relic density via the 2-to-2 thermal scattering of the Higgs fields after reheating. We discuss the implications of positivity bounds for microscopic models. First, massive graviton or radion mediates attractive forces between Higgs and scalar dark matter and the resultant dimension-8 operators respect the positivity bounds. Second, the disformal couplings in the general metric allow for the subluminal propagation of graviton but violate the positivity bounds. We show that there is a wide parameter space for explaining the correct relic density from the freeze-in mechanism and the positivity bounds can curb out the dimension-8 derivative Higgs-portal interactions nontrivially in the presence of the similar dimension-8 self-interactions for Higgs and dark matter.