Direct Dark Matter Searches Research Articles

On the Absence of Dark Matter in Dwarf Galaxies Surrounding the Milky Way

Abstract This paper presents an alternative scenario to explain the observed properties of the Milky Way dwarf Spheroidals (MW dSphs). We show that instead of resulting from large amounts of dark matter (DM), the large velocity dispersions observed along their lines of sight (σ los) can be entirely accounted for by dynamical heating of DM-free systems resulting from MW tidal shocks. Such a regime is expected if the progenitors of the MW dwarfs are infalling gas-dominated galaxies. In this case, gas lost through ram-pressure leads to a strong decrease of self-gravity, a phase during which stars can radially expand, while leaving a gas-free dSph in which tidal shocks can easily develop. The DM content of dSphs is widely derived from the measurement of the dSphs self-gravity acceleration projected along the line of sight. We show that the latter strongly anti-correlates with the dSph distance from the MW, and that it is matched in amplitude by the acceleration caused by MW tidal shocks on DM-free dSphs. If correct, this implies that the MW dSphs would have negligible DM content, putting in question, e.g., their use as targets for DM direct searches, or our understanding of the Local Group mass assembly history. Most of the progenitors of the MW dSphs are likely extremely tiny dIrrs, and deeper observations and more accurate modeling are necessary to infer their properties as well as to derive star formation histories of the faintest dSphs.

Study of cosmogenic radionuclides in the COSINE-100 NaI(Tl) detectors

COSINE-100 is a direct detection dark matter search experiment that uses a 106 kg array of eight NaI(Tl) crystals that are kept underground at the Yangyang Underground Laboratory to avoid cosmogenic activation of radioisotopes by cosmic rays. Even though the cosmogenic activity is declining with time, there are still significant background rates from the remnant nuclides. In this paper, we report measurements of cosmogenic isotope contaminations with less than one year half-lives that are based on extrapolations of the time dependent activities of their characteristic energy peaks to activity rates at the time the crystals were deployed underground. For longer-lived 109Cd (T1/2=1.27 y) and 22Na (T1/2=2.6 y), we investigate time correlations and coincidence events due to several emissions. The inferred sea-level production rates are compared with calculations based on the ACTIVIA and MENDL-2 model calculations and experimental data. The results from different approaches are in reasonable agreement with each other. For 3H, which has a long, 12.3 year half-life, we evaluated the activity levels and the exposure times that are in reasonable agreement with the time period estimated for each crystal’s exposure.

Dark atom solution for puzzles of direct dark matter searches

The puzzles of direct dark matter searches can find solution in the model of dark atoms, called O-helium, containing stable -2 charged lepton-like heavy particle O−− bound by ordinary Coulomb interaction with primordial helium 4 nuclei. Specific properties of this nuclear interacting dark matter can explain positive results of DAMA/NaI and DAMA/LIBRA experiments and negative results in cryogenic and heavy nuclei (like xenon) detectors. Astrophysical and collider probes for dark atom models as well as open questions of O-helium nuclear interaction with matter are discussed.

Singlet-doublet Dirac dark matter and neutrino masses

We examine an extension of the Standard Model that addresses the dark matter puzzle and generates Dirac neutrinos masses through the radiative seesaw mechanism. The new field content includes a scalar field that plays an important role in setting the relic abundance of dark matter. We analyze the phenomenology in the light of direct, indirect, and collider searches of dark matter. In this framework, the dark matter candidate is a Dirac particle that is a mixture of new singlet-doublet fields with mass $m_{\chi_1^0}\lesssim 1.1\,\text{TeV}$. We find that the allowed parameter space of this model is broader than the well-known Majorana dark matter scenario.

Analysis of Fermi-LAT data from Tucana-II: possible constraints on the Dark Matter models with an intriguing hint of a signal

Tucana-II (Tuc-II), a recently discovered and confirmed Ultra Faint Dwarf Spheroidal galaxy, has a high mass to light ratio as well as a large line-of-sight stellar velocity dispersion, thus making it an ideal candidate for an indirect dark matter (DM) search. In this paper, we have analyzed nine years of γ-ray data obtained from the Fermi-LAT instrument from the direction of Tuc-II. The fact that a very weak significant γ-ray excess (2.2σ) over the background of Tuc-II have been detected from the location of this galaxy. We have observed that this excess of γ-ray emission from the of location Tuc-II rises with longer periods of data. If WIMP pair annihilation is assumed for this faint emission, for bb̄ annihilation channel the test statistics (TS) value peaks at DM mass ∼ 14 GeV and for τ+τ− annihilation channel it peaks at DM mass 4 GeV. It is then called for an estimation of the 95% confidence level upper limit of the possible velocity weighted self-annihilation cross-section of the DM particles (WIMPs) within Tuc-II by fitting the observed γ-ray flux with spectra expected for DM annihilation. The estimated upper limits of the cross-sections from Tuc-II are then compared with two other dwarf galaxies that are considered to be good DM candidates in several studies. We have also compared our results with the cross-sections obtained in various popular theoretical models of the WIMPs to find that our results impose reasonable tight constraints on the parameter spaces of those DM models. In the concluding section, we compared our results with the similar results obtained from a combined dSph analysis by the Fermi-LAT collaboration as well as the results obtained from the studies of DM in the dwarf galaxies by the major ground-based Cherenkov experiments.

Dual MeV gamma-ray and dark matter observatory - GRAMS Project

GRAMS (Gamma-Ray and AntiMatter Survey) is a novel project that can simultaneously target both astrophysical observations with MeV gamma rays and an indirect dark matter search with antimatter. The GRAMS instrument is designed with a cost-effective, large-scale LArTPC (Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber) detector surrounded by plastic scintillators. The astrophysical observations at MeV energies have not yet been well-explored (the so-called “MeV-gap”) and GRAMS can improve the sensitivity by more than an order of magnitude compared to previous experiments. While primarily focusing on MeV gamma-ray observations, GRAMS is also optimized for cosmic ray antimatter surveys to indirectly search for dark matter. In particular, low-energy antideuterons will provide an essentially background-free dark matter signature. GRAMS will be a next generation experiment beyond the current GAPS (General AntiParticle Spectrometer) project for antimatter survey.

Compact, directional neutron detectors capable of high-resolution nuclear recoil imaging

We report on the design, production, and performance of compact 40-cm$^3$ Time Projection Chambers (TPCs) that detect fast neutrons by measuring the three-dimensional (3D) ionization distribution of nuclear recoils in $^4$He:CO$_2$ gas at atmospheric pressure. We use these detectors to characterize the fast-neutron flux inside the Belle II detector at the SuperKEKB electron-positron collider in Tsukuba, Japan, where the primary design constraint is a small form factor. We find that the TPCs meet or exceed all design specifications, and are capable of measuring the 3D surface shape and charge density profile of ionization clouds from nuclear recoils and charged tracks in exquisite detail. Scaled-up detectors based on the detection principle demonstrated here may be suitable for directional dark matter searches, measurements of coherent neutrino-nucleus scattering, and other experiments requiring precise detection of neutrons or nuclear recoils.

Cornering top-philic dark matter with colliders and cosmology: the importance of QCD corrections

Constraining dark matter models necessitates accurate predictions for large set of observables originating from collider physics, cosmology and astrophysics. We consider two classes of top-philic dark matter models where the dark sector is coupled to the Standard Model via the top quark and study the complementarity of dark matter relic density, direct and indirect detection and collider searches in exploring the model parameter space. We moreover investigate how higher-order corrections affect the results.

Halo Substructure Boosts to the Signatures of Dark Matter Annihilation

The presence of dark matter substructure will boost the signatures of dark matter annihilation. We review recent progress on estimates of this subhalo boost factor—a ratio of the luminosity from annihilation in the subhalos to that originating the smooth component—based on both numerical N-body simulations and semi-analytic modelings. Since subhalos of all the scales, ranging from the Earth mass (as expected, e.g., the supersymmetric neutralino, a prime candidate for cold dark matter) to galaxies or larger, give substantial contribution to the annihilation rate, it is essential to understand subhalo properties over a large dynamic range of more than twenty orders of magnitude in masses. Even though numerical simulations give the most accurate assessment in resolved regimes, extrapolating the subhalo properties down in sub-grid scales comes with great uncertainties—a straightforward extrapolation yields a very large amount of the subhalo boost factor of ≳100 for galaxy-size halos. Physically motivated theoretical models based on analytic prescriptions such as the extended Press-Schechter formalism and tidal stripping modeling, which are well tested against the simulation results, predict a more modest boost of order unity for the galaxy-size halos. Giving an accurate assessment of the boost factor is essential for indirect dark matter searches and thus, having models calibrated at large ranges of host masses and redshifts, is strongly urged upon.

Decoding the Nature of Dark Matter at Current and Future Experiments

Determination of the nature of Dark Matter (DM) is one of the most fundamental problems of particle physics and cosmology. If DM is light enough and interacts with Standard Model particles directly or via some mediators with a strength beyond the gravitational one, it can be probed at particle accelerators or in complementary direct and indirect DM searches in non-collider experiments. In the absence of such signals at present we can prepare ourselves for its discovery and identification. Generic signature from DM produced in particles collisions is missing transverse energy, MET, originating from DM particles escaping detector. Using effective field theory approach one can show that, depending on the structure and DM spin, effective operators have different MET distributions. This provides potential to distinguish certain classes of effective field theory (EFT) operators and related spin of DM at the LHC. This observation can be directly applied to theories beyond EFT paradigm as we demonstrate for Supersymmetry and inert two Higgs doublet model (i2HDM) as two examples. At the same time direct and indirect DM searches strongly complement collider searches for DM with large masses and pointing that collider and non-collider DM searches have unique power to probe the nature of Dark Matter. We also highlight prospects of new collider signature from DM such as disappearing charge tracks which are characteristic for wide class of DM theories. Finally, we advocate the importance of the joint framework which would join efforts of HEP community and allow to effectively identify the underlying theory of DM.

Making dark matter out of light: Freeze-in from plasma effects

Dark matter (DM) could couple to particles in the Standard Model (SM) through a light vector mediator. In the limit of small coupling, this portal could be responsible for producing the observed DM abundance through a mechanism known as freeze-in. Furthermore, the requisite DM-SM couplings provide a concrete benchmark for direct and indirect searches for DM. In this paper, we present updated calculations of the relic abundance for DM produced by freeze-in through a light vector mediator. We identify an additional production channel: the decay of photons that acquire an in-medium plasma mass. These plasmon decays are a dominant channel for DM production for sub-MeV DM masses, and including this channel leads to a significant reduction in the predicted signal strength for DM searches. Accounting for production from both plasmon decays and annihilations of SM fermions, the DM acquires a highly non-thermal phase space distribution which impacts the cosmology at later times; these cosmological effects will be explored in a companion paper.

Minimal spin-one isotriplet dark matter

In this work we present a simple extension of the Standard Model that contains, as the only new physics component, a massive spin-one matter field in the adjoint representation of $SU(2)_{L}$. In order to be consistent with perturbative unitarity, the vector field must be odd under a $Z_{2}$ symmetry. Radiative corrections make the neutral component of the triplet ($V^{0}$) slightly lighter than the charged ones. We show that $V^{0}$ can be the dark matter particle while satisfying all current bounds if it has a mass between $2.8$ and $3.8$ TeV. We present the current limit on the model parameter space from highly complementary experimental constraints including dark matter relic density measurement, dark matter direct and indirect detection searches, LHC data on Higgs couplings to photons and LHC data on disappearing track searches. We show that the two-dimensional parameter space can be substantially covered by disappearing track searches at a future 100 TeV hadron collider, which will probe DM mass upto about 1.2 TeV.

Remnants of Galactic Subhalos and Their Impact on Indirect Dark-Matter Searches

Dark-matter subhalos, predicted in large numbers in the cold-dark-matter scenario, should have an impact on dark-matter-particle searches. Recent results show that tidal disruption of these objects in computer simulations is overefficient due to numerical artifacts and resolution effects. Accounting for these results, we re-estimated the subhalo abundance in the Milky Way using semianalytical techniques. In particular, we showed that the boost factor for gamma rays and cosmic-ray antiprotons is increased by roughly a factor of two.

Impact of form factor uncertainties on interpretations of coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering data

The standard model coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CEνNS) cross section is subject to nuclear form factor uncertainties, mainly driven by the root-mean-square radius of the neutron density distribution. Motivated by COHERENT phases I-III and future multi-ton direct detection dark matter searches, we evaluate these uncertainties in cesium iodide, germanium, xenon and argon detectors. We find that the uncertainties become relevant for momentum transfers q ≳ 20 MeV and are essentially independent of the form factor parameterization. Consequently, form factor uncertainties are not important for CEνNS induced by reactor or solar neutrinos. Taking into account these uncertainties, we then evaluate their impact on measurements of CEνNS at COHERENT, the diffuse supernova background (DSNB) neutrinos and sub-GeV atmospheric neutrinos. We also calculate the relative uncertainties in the number of COHERENT events for different nuclei as a function of recoil energy. For DSNB and atmospheric neutrinos, event rates at a liquid argon detector can be uncertain to more than 5%. Finally, we consider the impact of form factor uncertainties on searches for nonstandard neutrino interactions, sterile neutrinos and neutrino generalized interactions. We point out that studies of new physics using CEνNS data are affected by neutron form factor uncertainties, which if not properly taken into account may lead to the misidentification of new physics signals. The uncertainties quantified here are also relevant for dark matter direct detection searches.

DANAE: A new effort to directly search for dark matter with DEPFET-RNDR detectors

The direct search for dark matter (DM) at the sub-GeV∕c2 mass scale gained special interest during the last years, mainly motivated by various theoretical models. To search for individual DM–electron interactions in Si-semiconductor devices a readout noise level of less than 1e− RMS is required.One possible technique which promises a sub-electron noise level is the Depleted P-channel Field Effect Transistor (DEPFET) with Repetitive Non Destructive Readout (RNDR). Such a low noise level was successfully demonstrated with a single pixel DEPFET-RNDR prototype. The follow-up project DANAE aims to apply the DEPFET-RNDR technique to the direct search for DM–electron interactions. The assembly of a setup with a detector matrix of 64 × 64 pixels is envisaged. Currently, a dedicated test stand for the optimization of the dark current and the detector characterization is under construction.In this contribution, we will introduce the DEPFET-RNDR technique and the DANAE project. Afterwards, the status of the ongoing R&D work will be reported which is currently focused on the setup construction and the investigation of the temperature dependence of the dark current. Finally, we will discuss future prospects of DANAE.

Exposing dark sector with futureZ-factories

We investigate the prospects of searching dark sector models via exotic [Formula: see text]-boson decay at future [Formula: see text] colliders with Giga [Formula: see text] and Tera [Formula: see text] options. Four general categories of dark sector models: Higgs portal dark matter, vector portal dark matter, inelastic dark matter and axion-like particles, are considered. Focusing on channels motivated by the dark sector models, we carry out a model independent study of the sensitivities of [Formula: see text]-factories in probing exotic decays. The limits on branching ratios of the exotic [Formula: see text] decay are typically [Formula: see text] for the Giga [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] for the Tera [Formula: see text], and they are compared with the projection for the high luminosity LHC. We demonstrate that future [Formula: see text]-factories can provide its unique and leading sensitivity, and highlight the complementarity with other experiments, including the indirect and direct dark matter search limits, and the existing collider limits. Future [Formula: see text] factories will play a leading role to uncover the hidden sector of the universe in the future.

WIMP Dark Matter Searches With the ATLAS Detector at the LHC

Astronomical and cosmological observations support the existence of invisible matter that can only be detected through its gravitational effects, thus making it very difficult to study. Dark Matter makes up about 27\% of the known universe. As a matter of fact, one of the main goals of the physics programme of the experiments at the Large Hadron Collider of the CERN laboratory, is the search of new particles that can explain the Dark Matter. This review discusses both experimental and theoretical aspects of searches of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles candidates for dark matter at the LHC. An updated overview of the various experimental search channels performed by the ATLAS experiment is presented, in order to pinpoint complementarity among different types of LHC searches and the interplay between LHC and direct and indirect Dark Matter searches

Search for Gamma-ray Emission from p-wave Dark Matter Annihilation in the Galactic Center.

Indirect searches for dark matter through Standard Model products of its annihilation generally assume a cross-section which is dominated by a term independent of velocity (s-wave annihilation). However, in many DM models an s-wave annihilation cross-section is absent or helicity suppressed. To reproduce the correct DM relic density in these models, the leading term in the cross section is proportional to the DM velocity squared (p-wave annihilation). Indirect detection of such p-wave DM is difficult because the average velocities of DM in galaxies today are orders of magnitude slower than the DM velocity at the time of decoupling from the primordial thermal plasma, thus suppressing the annihilation cross-section today by some five orders of magnitude relative to its value at freeze out. Thus p-wave DM is out of reach of traditional searches for DM annihilations in the Galactic halo. Near the region of influence of a central supermassive black hole, such as Sgr A*, however, DM can form a localized over-density known as a "spike". In such spikes the DM is predicted to be both concentrated in space and accelerated to higher velocities, thereby allowing the γ-ray signature from its annihilation to potentially be detectable above the background. We use the Fermi Large Area Telescope to search for the γ-ray signature of p-wave annihilating DM from a spike around Sgr A* in the energy range 10 GeV-600 GeV. Such a signal would appear as a point source and would have a sharp line or box-like spectral features difficult to mimic with standard astrophysical processes, indicating a DM origin. We find no significant excess of γ rays in this range, and we place upper limits on the flux in γ-ray boxes originating from the Galactic Center. This result, the first of its kind, is interpreted in the context of different models of the DM density near Sgr A*.

On the Possibility to Study Antiproton Production at the SPD Detector at NICA Collider for Dark Matter Search in Astrophysical Experiments

Dark matter is an important component of the Standard model of cosmology but its nature is still unknown. One of the most common explanations is that dark matter consists of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs), supposed to be cold thermal relics of the Big Bang and to build up the galactic dark halos. Indirect search of dark matter could be performed via the study of an anomalous antiproton component in cosmic rays originating from possible annihilation of dark matter pairs in the galactic halo, on top of the standard astrophysical production. The measurements performed by the AMS-02 and PAMELA spectrometers have shown that limited knowledge of antiproton-production cross sections in $pp$, $pD$, $pHe$ and $HeHe$ collisions is one of the main uncertainties of background subtraction. The planned SPD experiment at the NICA collider could provide a precision measurement of antiproton yield in wide kinematic range in $pp$ and $pD$ collisions at the energy scale from the threshold to $\sqrt{s}=26$ GeV/$c$.

Scope of self-interacting thermal WIMPs in a minimal U(1)D extension and its future prospects

In this work we have considered a minimal extension of Standard Model by a local U(1) gauge group in order to accommodate a stable (fermionic) Dark Matter (DM) candidate. We have focussed on parameter regions where DM possesses adequate self-interaction, owing to the presence of a light scalar mediator (the dark Higgs), alleviating some of the tensions in the small-scale structures. We have studied the scenario in the light of a variety of data, mostly from dark matter direct searches, collider searches and flavor physics experiments, with an attempt to constrain the interactions of the standard model (SM) particles with the ones in the Dark Sector (DS). Assuming a small gauge kinetic mixing parameter, we find that for rather heavy DM the most stringent bound on the mixing angle of the Dark Higgs with the SM Higgs boson comes from dark matter direct detection experiments, while for lighter DM, LHC constraints become more relevant. Note that, due to the presence of very light mediators, the effective operator approach to the direct detection is inapplicable here and these constraints have been re-evaluated for our scenario. In addition, we find that the smallness of the relevant portal couplings, as dictated by data, critically suppress the viability of DM production by the standard “freeze-out” mechanism in such simplified scenarios. In particular, the viable DM masses are lesssim mathcal{O}(2) GeV i.e. in the regions where direct detection limits tend to become weak. For heavier DM with large self-interactions, we hence conclude that non-thermal production mechanisms are favored. Lastly, future collider reach of such a simplified scenario has also been studied in detail.