Direct Detection Signals Research Articles

One-loop contribution to dark-matter-nucleon scattering in the pseudo-scalar dark matter model

Recent dark matter (DM) direct searches place very stringent constraints on the possible DM candidates proposed in extensions of the Standard Model. There are however models where these constraints are avoided. One of the simplest and most striking examples comes from a straightforward Higgs-portal pseudo-scalar DM model featured with a softly broken U(1) symmetry. In this model the tree-level DM-nucleon scattering cross section vanishes in the limit of zero momentum transfer. It has also been argued that the leading-order DM-nucleon cross section appears at the one-loop level. In this work we have calculated the exact cross section in the zero momentum transfer at the leading order i.e., at the one-loop level of perturbative expansion. We have concluded that, in agreement with expectations, the amplitude for the scattering process is UV finite and approaches zero in the limit of vanishing DM masses. Moreover, we made clear that the finite DM velocity correction at tree level is subdominant with respect to the one-loop contribution. Based on the analytic formulae, our numerical studies show that, for a typical choice of model parameters, the DM nuclear recoiling cross section is well below mathcal{O} (10−50 cm2), which indicates that the DM direct detection signal in this model naturally avoids present strong experimental limits on the cross section.

Dark matter and collider signals in an MSSM extension with vector-like multiplets

Motivated by grand unification considerations, we analyse a simple extension of the minimal supersymmetric standard model with additional pairs of vector-like chiral supermultiplets. We focus on the so-called LND setup, which enlarges the particle content of the minimal model by two vector-like pairs of weak doublets (one pair of leptons and one pair of down-type quarks) and one vector-like pair of neutrino singlets. Imposing collider and low-energy constraints, sneutrinos and neutralinos both emerge as possible lightest supersymmetric particles and thus dark matter candidates. We perform a complete analysis of the dark sector and study the viability of these neutralino and sneutrino dark matter options. We show that cosmological considerations (the dark matter relic abundance and its direct and indirect detection signals) restrict neutralino dark matter to exhibit similar properties as in the minimal supersymmetric standard model, and impose the sneutrino dark matter candidate to be singlet-like, rather than doublet-like. Allowing the mixing of the fermionic component of the new supermultiplets with the Standard Model third generation fermions, we moreover demonstrate the existence of collider signals that are distinguishable from other, more minimal, supersymmetric scenarios by virtue of an enhanced production of events enriched in tau leptons. We furthermore show that this signature yields robust LHC signals, that could potentially be differentiated from the background in future data.

Dark matter shifts away from direct detection

Dark matter could emerge along with the Higgs as a composite pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone boson χ with decay constant f∼ TeV. This type of WIMP is especially compelling because its leading interaction with the Standard Model, the derivative Higgs portal, has the correct annihilation strength for thermal freeze-out if mχ ∼ O(100) GeV, but is negligible in direct detection experiments due to the very small momentum transfer. The explicit breaking of the shift symmetry which radiatively generates mχ, however, introduces non-derivative DM interactions. In existing realizations a marginal Higgs portal coupling λ is generated with size comparable to the Higgs quartic, and thus well within reach of XENON1T . Here, we present and analyze the interesting case where the pattern of explicit symmetry breaking naturally suppresses λ beyond the reach of current and future direct detection experiments. If the DM acquires mass from bottom quark loops, the bottom quark also mediates suppressed DM-nucleus scattering with cross sections that will be eventually probed by LZ . Alternatively, the DM can obtain mass from gauging its stabilizing U(1) symmetry. No direct detection signal is expected even at future facilities, but the introduction of a dark photon γD has a number of phenomenological implications which we study in detail, treating mγD as a free parameter. Complementary probes of the dark sector include indirect DM detection, DM self-interactions, and extra radiation, as well as collider experiments. We frame our discussion in an effective field theory, motivating our parameter choices with a detailed analysis of an SO(7)/SO(6) composite Higgs model, which can yield either scenario at low energies.

Higgs portals for thermal Dark Matter. EFT perspectives and the NMSSM

We analyze a low energy effective model of Dark Matter in which the thermal relic density is provided by a singlet Majorana fermion which interacts with the Higgs fields via higher dimensional operators. Direct detection signatures may be reduced if blind spot solutions exist, which naturally appear in models with extended Higgs sectors. Explicit mass terms for the Majorana fermion can be forbidden by a Z3 symmetry, which in addition leads to a reduction of the number of higher dimensional operators. Moreover, a weak scale mass for the Majorana fermion is naturally obtained from the vacuum expectation value of a scalar singlet field. The proper relic density may be obtained by the s-channel interchange of Higgs and gauge bosons, with the longitudinal mode of the Z boson (the neutral Goldstone mode) playing a relevant role in the annihilation process. This model shares many properties with the Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model (NMSSM) with light singlinos and heavy scalar and gauge superpartners. In order to test the validity of the low energy effective field theory, we compare its predictions with those of the ultraviolet complete NMSSM. Extending our framework to include Z3 neutral Majorana fermions, analogous to the bino in the NMSSM, we find the appearance of a new bino-singlino well tempered Dark Matter region.

Stop co-annihilation in the minimal supersymmetric standard model revisited

We re-examine the stop co-annihilation scenario of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model, wherein a bino-like lightest supersymmetric particle has a thermal relic density set by co-annihilations with a scalar partner of the top quark in the early universe. We concentrate on the case where only the top partner sector is relevant for the cosmology, and other particles are heavy. We discuss the cosmology with focus on low energy parameters and an emphasis on the implications of the measured Higgs boson mass and its properties. We find that the irreducible direct detection signal correlated with this cosmology is generically well below projected experimental sensitivity, and in most cases lies below the neutrino background. A larger, detectable, direct detection rate is possible, but is unrelated to the co-annihilation cosmology. LHC searches for compressed spectra are crucial for probing this scenario.

On the direct detection of multi-component dark matter: sensitivity studies and parameter estimation

We study the case of multi-component dark matter, in particular how direct detection signals are modified in the presence of several stable weakly-interacting-massive particles. Assuming a positive signal in a future direct detection experiment, stemming from two dark matter components, we study the region in parameter space where it is possible to distinguish a one from a two-component dark matter spectrum. First, we leave as free parameters the two dark matter masses and show that the two hypotheses can be significantly discriminated for a range of dark matter masses with their splitting being the critical factor. We then investigate how including the effects of different interaction strengths, local densities or velocity dispersions for the two components modifies these conclusions. We also consider the case of isospin-violating couplings. In all scenarios, we show results for various types of nuclei both for elastic spin-independent and spin-dependent interactions. Finally, assuming that the two-component hypothesis is confirmed, we quantify the accuracy with which the parameters can be extracted and discuss the different degeneracies that occur. This includes studying the case in which only a single experiment observes a signal, and also the scenario of having two signals from two different experiments, in which case the ratios of the couplings to neutrons and protons may also be extracted.

Prospects for determining the particle/antiparticle nature of WIMP dark matter with direct detection experiments

It was recently pointed out that direct detection signals from at least three different targets may be used to determine whether the Dark Matter (DM) particle is different from its antiparticle. In this work, we examine in detail the feasibility of this test under different conditions, motivated by proposals for future detectors. Specifically, we perform likelihood fits to mock data under the hypotheses that the DM particle is identical to or different from its antiparticle, and determine the significance with which the former can be rejected in favor of the latter. In our analysis, we consider 3 different values of the DM mass (50 GeV, 300 GeV, 1 TeV) and 4 different experimental ensembles, each consisting of at least 3 different targets — Xe and Ar plus one among the following: Si, Ge, CaWO4, or Ge/CaWO4. For each of these experimental ensembles and each DM mass, the expected discrimination significance is calculated as a function of the DM-nucleon couplings. In the best case scenario, the discrimination significance can exceed mathcal{O}left(3sigma right) for three of the four ensembles considered, reaching mathcal{O}left(5sigma right) at special values of the DM-nucleon couplings. For the ensemble including Si, mathcal{O}left(5sigma right) significance can be achieved for a range of DM masses and over a much wider range of DM-nucleon couplings, highlighting the need for a variety of experimental targets in order to determine the DM properties. These results show that future direct detection signals could be used to exclude, at a statistically significant level, a Majorana or a real DM particle, giving a critical clue about the identity of the Dark Matter.

CEPC precision of electroweak oblique parameters and weakly interacting dark matter: The scalar case

We investigate the sensitivity to weakly interacting scalar dark matter from future determination of electroweak oblique parameters in the Circular Electron–Positron Collider (CEPC) project. As illuminating examples, three dark matter models with scalar electroweak multiplets are studied. The multiplet couplings to the standard model Higgs doublet can break the mass degeneracy among the components, leading to nonzero contributions to oblique parameters. The dark matter candidate in these model is either a CP-even or CP-odd scalar, whose trilinear coupling to the Higgs boson could induce direct detection signals. For some moderate coupling values, we find that the CEPC sensitivity can be better than current direct detection experiments, exploring up to a TeV mass scale.

How light a higgsino or a wino dark matter can become in a compressed scenario of MSSM

Higgsinos and Wino have strong motivations for being Dark Matter (DM) candidates in supersymmetry, but their annihilation cross sections are quite large. For thermal generation and a single component DM setup the higgsinos or wino may have masses of around 1 or 2-3 TeV respectively. For such DM candidates, a small amount of slepton coannihilation may decrease the effective DM annihilation cross section. This, in turn reduces the lower limit of the relic density satisfied DM mass by more than 50%. Almost a similar degree of reduction of the same limit is also seen for squark coannihilations. However, on the contrary, for near degeneracy of squarks and higgsino DM, near its generic upper limit, the associated coannihilations may decrease the relic density, thus extending the upper limit towards higher DM masses. We also compute the direct and indirect detection signals. Here, because of the quasi-mass degeneracy of the squarks and the LSP, we come across a situation where squark exchange diagrams may contribute significantly or more strongly than the Higgs exchange contributions in the spin-independent direct detection cross section of DM. For the higgsino-DM scenario, we observe that a DM mass of 600 GeV to be consistent with WMAP/PLANCK and LUX data for sfermion coannihilations. The LUX data itself excludes the region of 450 to 600 GeV, by a half order of magnitude of the cross-section, well below the associated uncertainty. The similar combined lower limit for a wino DM is about 1.1 TeV. There is hardly any collider bound from the LHC for squarks and sleptons in such a compressed scenario where sfermion masses are close to the mass of a higgsino/wino LSP.

Gravitational wave, collider and dark matter signals from a scalar singlet electroweak baryogenesis

We analyse a simple extension of the SM with just an additional scalar singlet coupled to the Higgs boson. We discuss the possible probes for electroweak baryogenesis in this model including collider searches, gravitational wave and direct dark matter detection signals. We show that a large portion of the model parameter space exists where the observation of gravitational waves would allow detection while the indirect collider searches would not.

Suppressing supersymmetric flavor violations through quenched gaugino-flavor interactions

Realizing that couplings related by supersymmetry (SUSY) can be disentangled when SUSY is broken, it is suggested that unwanted flavor and CP violating SUSY couplings may be suppressed via quenched gaugino-flavor interactions, which may be accomplished by power-law running of sfermion anomalous dimensions. A simple theoretical framework to accomplish this is exemplified and the defeated constraints are tallied. One key implication of the scenario is the expectation of enhanced top, bottom and tau production at the LHC, accompanied by large missing energy. Also, direct detection signals of dark matter may be more challenging to find than in conventional SUSY scenarios.

Thermal-Mechanical Noise in Resonant Thin-Film Magnetoelectric Sensors

Thin-film magnetoelectric sensors, i.e., composites of magnetostrictive and piezoelectric materials, are able to measure very low magnetic flux densities in the picotesla range. In order to further improve the limit of detection it is of high importance to understand and quantify the relevant noise sources. In this paper, a common model for the deflection noise in vibrational structures is applied to the cantilever structure of resonant magnetoelectric sensors. By means of deflection and noise measurements the existence of thermal-mechanical noise even in sensor structures with a size in the centimeter range is proven. Based on these findings a noise equivalent circuit is suggested which allows not only the distinction between the impact of different sensor-intrinsic noise sources and also the involvement of the preamplifier noise. We found that the thermal-mechanical noise is the dominant noise source if direct signal detection is performed at the first bending resonance frequency of the sensor. However, this kind of noise is not the limiting influence when applying magnetic frequency-conversion techniques.

Very Degenerate Higgsino Dark Matter

We present a study of the Very Degenerate Higgsino Dark Matter (DM), whose mass splitting between the lightest neutral and charged components is mathcal{O}(1) MeV, much smaller than radiative splitting of 355 MeV. The scenario is realized in the minimal supersymmetric standard model by small gaugino mixings. In contrast to the pure Higgsino DM with the radiative splitting only, various observable signatures with distinct features are induced. First of all, the very small mass splitting makes (a) sizable Sommerfeld enhancement and Ramsauer-Townsend (RT) suppression relevant to ∼1 TeV Higgsino DM, and (b) Sommerfeld-Ramsauer-Townsend effect saturate at lower velocities v/c ≲ 10−3. As a result, annihilation signals can be large enough to be observed from the galactic center and/or dwarf galaxies, while the relative signal sizes can vary depending on the locations of Sommerfeld peaks and RT dips. In addition, at collider experiments, stable chargino signatures can be searched for to probe the model in the future. DM direct detection signals, however, depend on the Wino mass; even no detectable signals can be induced if the Wino is heavier than about 10 TeV.

Unified explanation for dark matter and electroweak baryogenesis with direct detection and gravitational wave signatures

A minimal extension of the Standard Model that provides both a dark matter candidate and a strong first-order electroweak phase transition (EWPT) consists of two additional Lorentz and gauge singlets. In this paper we work out a composite Higgs version of this scenario, based on the coset $SO(7)/SO(6)$. We show that by embedding the elementary fermions in appropriate representations of $SO(7)$, all dominant interactions are described by only three free effective parameters. Within the model dependencies of the embedding, the theory predicts one of the singlets to be stable and responsible for the observed dark matter abundance. At the same time, the second singlet introduces new $CP$-violation phases and triggers a strong first-order EWPT, making electroweak baryogenesis feasible. It turns out that this scenario does not conflict with current observations and it is promising for solving the dark matter and baryon asymmetry puzzles. The tight predictions of the model will be accessible at the forthcoming dark matter direct detection and gravitational wave experiments.

Predicting the capture rate in the Sun from a direct detection signal independently of the astrophysics

The goal of the works on which this talk is based is to relate a direct detection signal with neutrino limits from the Sun independently of the astrophysics. In order to achieve this we derive a halo-independent lower bound on the dark matter capture rate in the Sun from a direct detection signal, with which one can set upper limits on the branching ratios into different channels from the absence of a high-energy neutrino flux in neutrino observatories. We also extend this bound to the case of inelastic scattering, both endothermic and exothermic. From two inelastic signals we show how the dark matter mass, the mass difference of the states and the couplings to neutrons and protons can be obtained. Furthermore, one can also pin down the exothermic/endothermic nature of the scattering, and therefore a precise lower bound on the solar capture rate is predicted. We also discuss isospin violation and uncertainties due to form factors.

Pinning down inelastic dark matter in the Sun and in direct detection

We study the solar capture rate of inelastic dark matter with endothermic and/or exothermic interactions. By assuming that an inelastic dark matter signal will be observed in next generation direct detection experiments we can set a lower bound on the capture rate that is independent of the local dark matter density, the velocity distribution, the galactic escape velocity as well as the scattering cross section. In combination with upper limits from neutrino observatories we can place upper bounds on the annihilation channels leading to neutrinos. We find that, while endothermic scattering limits are weak in the isospin-conserving case, strong bounds may be set for exothermic interactions, in particular in the spin-dependent case. Furthermore, we study the implications of observing two direct detection signals, in which case one can halo-independently obtain the dark matter mass and the mass splitting, and disentangle the endothermic/exothermic nature of the scattering. Finally we discuss isospin violation.

Continuum-mediated dark matter–baryon scattering

Many models of dark matter scattering with baryons may be treated either as a simple contact interaction or as the exchange of a light mediator particle. We study an alternative, in which a continuum of light mediator states may be exchanged. This could arise, for instance, from coupling to a sector which is approximately conformal at the relevant momentum transfer scale. In the non-relativistic effective theory of dark matter-baryon scattering, which is useful for parametrizing direct detection signals, the effect of such continuum mediators is to multiply the amplitude by a function of the momentum transfer q, which in the simplest case is just a power law. We develop the basic framework and study two examples: the case where the mediator is a scalar operator coupling to the Higgs portal (which turns out to be highly constrained) and the case of an antisymmetric tensor operator ${\cal O}_{\mu \nu}$ that mixes with the hypercharge field strength and couples to dark matter tensor currents, which has an interesting viable parameter space. We describe the effect of such mediators on the cross sections and recoil energy spectra that could be observed in direct detection.

Monthly modulation in dark matter direct-detection experiments

The signals in dark matter direct-detection experiments should exhibit modulation signatures due to the Earth's motion with respect to the Galactic dark matter halo. The annual and daily modulations, due to the Earth's revolution about the Sun and rotation about its own axis, have been explored previously. Monthly modulation is another such feature present in direct detection signals, and provides a nearly model-independent method of distinguishing dark matter signal events from background. We study here monthly modulations in detail for both WIMP and WISP dark matter searches, examining both the effect of the motion of the Earth about the Earth-Moon barycenter and the gravitational focusing due to the Moon. For WIMP searches, we calculate the monthly modulation of the count rate and show the effects are too small to be observed in the foreseeable future. For WISP dark matter experiments, we show that the photons generated by WISP to photon conversion have frequencies which undergo a monthly modulating shift which is detectable with current technology and which cannot in general be neglected in high resolution WISP searches.

Direct detection signatures of self-interacting dark matter with a light mediator

Self-interacting dark matter (SIDM) is a simple and well-motivated scenario that could explain long-standing puzzles in structure formation on small scales. If the required self-interaction arises through a light mediator (with mass ∼ 10 MeV) in the dark sector, this new particle must be unstable to avoid overclosing the universe. The decay of the light mediator could happen due to a weak coupling of the hidden and visible sectors, providing new signatures for direct detection experiments. The SIDM nuclear recoil spectrum is more peaked towards low energies compared to the usual case of contact interactions, because the mediator mass is comparable to the momentum transfer of nuclear recoils. We show that the SIDM signal could be distinguished from that of DM particles with contact interactions by considering the time-average energy spectrum in experiments employing different target materials, or the average and modulated spectra in a single experiment. Using current limits from LUX and SuperCDMS, we also derive strong bounds on the mixing parameter between hidden and visible sector.

Twin Higgs WIMP dark matter

Dark matter (DM) without a matter asymmetry is studied in the context of twin Higgs (TH) theories in which the LHC naturalness problem is addressed. These possess a twin sector related to the Standard Model (SM) by a (broken) ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$ symmetry, and interacting with the SM via a specific Higgs portal. We focus on the minimal realization of the TH mechanism, the fraternal twin Higgs, with only a single generation of twin quarks and leptons, and the $SU(3{)}^{\ensuremath{'}}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}SU(2{)}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ gauge group. We show that a variety of natural twin-WIMP DM candidates are present (directly linked to the weak scale by naturalness), the simplest and most attractive being the ${\ensuremath{\tau}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ lepton with a mass ${m}_{{\ensuremath{\tau}}^{\ensuremath{'}}}>{m}_{\text{Higgs}}/2$, although spin-1 ${W}^{\ensuremath{'}\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}$ DM and multicomponent DM are also possible (twin baryons are strongly disfavored by tuning). We consider in detail the dynamics of the possibly (meta)stable glueballs in the twin sector, the nature of the twin QCD phase transition, and possible new contributions to the number of relativistic degrees of freedom, $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}{N}_{\mathrm{eff}}$. Direct detection signals are below current bounds but accessible in near-future experiments. Indirect detection phenomenology is rich and requires detailed studies of twin hadronization and fragmentation to twin glueballs and quarkonia and their subsequent decay to SM, and possible light twin sector states.