Right-handed Neutrino Dark Matter Research Articles

Right-handed neutrino dark matter with forbidden annihilation

The seesaw mechanism with three right-handed neutrinos has one as a well-motivated dark matter candidate if stable and the other two can explain baryon asymmetry via the thermal leptogenesis scenario. We explore the possibility of introducing additional particles to make the right-handed neutrino dark matter in thermal equilibrium and freeze out through a forbidden annihilation channel. Nowadays in the Universe, this forbidden channel can be reactivated by a strong gravitational potential such as the supermassive black hole in our galaxy center. The Fermi-LAT gamma ray data and dark matter relic density require this right-handed neutrino dark matter to have mass below $100\,$GeV and the existence of an additional boson $\phi$ that can be tested at future lepton colliders.

Braneworld cosmological effect on freeze-in dark matter density and lifetime frontier

In the 5-dimensional braneworld cosmology, the Friedmann equation of our 4-dimensional universe on a brane is modified at high temperatures while the standard Big Bang cosmology is reproduced at low temperatures. Based on two well-known scenarios, the Randall–Sundrum and Gauss–Bonnet braneworld cosmologies, we investigate the braneworld cosmological effect on the relic density of a non-thermal dark matter particle whose interactions with the Standard Model particles are so weak that its relic density is determined by the freeze-in mechanism. For dark matter production processes in the early universe, we assume a simple scenario with a light vector-boson mediator for the dark matter particle to communicate with the Standard Model particles. We find that the braneworld cosmological effect can dramatically alters the resultant dark matter relic density from the one in the standard Big Bang cosmology. As an application, we consider a right-handed neutrino dark matter in the minimal B-L extended Standard Model with a light B-L gauge boson (Z^prime ) as a mediator. We find an impact of the braneworld cosmological effect on the search for the long-lived Z^prime boson at the planned/proposed Lifetime Frontier experiments.

Roads for right-handed neutrino dark matter: Fast expansion, standard freeze-out, and early matter domination

Right-handed neutrinos appear in several extensions beyond the Standard Model, especially in connection to neutrino masses. Motivated by this, we present a model of right-handed neutrino dark matter that interacts with Standard Model particles through a new gauge symmetry as well as via mass mixing between the new vector field and the Z boson, and investigate different production mechanisms. We derive the dark matter relic density when the Hubble rate is faster than usual, when dark matter decouples in a matter domination epoch, and when it decouples in a radiation domination regime, which is then followed by a matter domination era. The direct detection rate features a spin-independent but velocity suppressed operator, as well as a spin-dependent operator when the mass mixing is correctly accounted for. We put all these results into perspective with existing flavor physics, atomic parity violation, and collider bounds. Lastly, we outline the region of parameter space in which weak-scale right-handed neutrino dark matter stands as a viable dark matter candidate.

A model for mixed warm and hot right-handed neutrino dark matter

We discuss a model where a mixed warm and hot keV neutrino dark matter rises naturally. We arrange active and sterile neutrinos in the same SU(3)L multiplet, with the lightest sterile neutrino being dark matter. The other two heavy sterile neutrinos, through their out-of-equilibrium decay, contribute both to the dilution of dark matter density and its population, after freeze-out. We show that this model features all ingredients to overcome the overproduction of keV neutrino dark matter, and explore the phenomenological implications for Big Bang Nucleosynthesis and the number of relativistic degrees of freedom.

Sterile neutrino dark matter and leptogenesis in Left-Right Higgs Parity

The standard model Higgs quartic coupling vanishes at (109 − 1013) GeV. We study SU(2)L× SU(2)R× U(1)B−L theories that incorporate the Higgs Parity mechanism, where this becomes the scale of Left-Right symmetry breaking, vR. Furthermore, these theories solve the strong CP problem and predict three right-handed neutrinos. We introduce cosmologies where SU(2)R× U(1)B−L gauge interactions produce right-handed neutrinos via the freeze-out or freeze-in mechanisms. In both cases, we find the parameter space where the lightest right-handed neutrino is dark matter and the decay of a heavier one creates the baryon asymmetry of the universe via leptogenesis. A theory of flavor is constructed that naturally accounts for the lightness and stability of the right-handed neutrino dark matter, while maintaining sufficient baryon asymmetry. The dark matter abundance and successful natural leptogenesis require vR to be in the range (1010− 1013) GeV for freeze-out, in remarkable agreement with the scale where the Higgs quartic coupling vanishes, whereas freeze-in requires vR ≳ 109 GeV. The allowed parameter space can be probed by the warmness of dark matter, precise determinations of the top quark mass and QCD coupling by future colliders and lattice computations, and measurement of the neutrino mass hierarchy.

Right-handed neutrino dark matter, neutrino masses, and non-standard cosmology in a 2HDM

We explore the dark matter phenomenology of a weak-scale right-handed neutrino in the context of a Two Higgs Doublet Model. The expected signal at direct detection experiments is different from the usual spin-independent and spin-dependent classification since the scattering with quarks depends on the dark matter spin. The dark matter relic density is set by thermal freeze-out and in the presence of non-standard cosmology, where an Abelian gauge symmetry is key for the dark matter production mechanism. We show that such symmetry allows us to simultaneously address neutrino masses and the flavor problem present in general Two Higgs Doublet Model constructions. Lastly, we outline the region of parameter space that obeys collider, perturbative unitarity and direct detection constraints.

Flipped U(1) extended standard model and Majorana dark matter

We propose a general flavor-independent extension of the Standard Model (SM) with the minimal particle content, based on the symmetry SU(3)_Ctimes SU(2)_Ltimes U(1)_{Y'}times U(1)_Xtimes Z_2. In this scenario, the charge operator is identified in terms of the charges of two U(1) gauge symmetries. The light neutrino masses are generated via Type-I seesaw mechanism only with two heavy right-handed neutrinos acquiring their Majorana masses through the U(1)_{Y'}times U(1)_X symmetry breaking. We study various experimental constraints on the parameters of the model and investigate the phenomenology of the right-handed neutrino dark matter (DM) candidate assigned a Z_2-odd parity. We find that the most important constraints are the observed DM relic abundance, the current LHC limits, and the ambiguity of the SM neutral gauge boson mass.

Right-handed neutrino dark matter with radiative neutrino mass in gauged B − L model

We study the possibility of right-handed neutrino dark matter (DM) in gauged U(1)B−L×Z2 extension of the standard model augmented by an additional scalar doublet, being odd under the Z2 symmetry, to give rise the scotogenic scenario of radiative neutrino masses. Due to lepton portal interactions, the right-handed neutrino DM can have additional co-annihilation channels apart from the usual annihilations through ZB−L which give rise to much more allowed mass of DM from relic abundance criteria, even away from the resonance region like MDM≈MZB−L/2. This enlarged parameter space is found to be consistent with neutrino mass constraints while being sensitive to direct detection experiments of DM as well as rare decay experiments looking for charged lepton flavour violating decays like μ→eγ. Due to the possibility of the Z2 odd scalar doublet being the next to lightest stable particle that can be sufficiently produced in colliders by virtue of its gauge interactions, one can have interesting signatures like displaced vertex or disappearing charged tracks provided that the mass splitting δM between DM and the next to lightest stable particle (NLSP) is small. In particular, if δM<mτ=1.77 GeV, then we get large displaced vertex signature of NLSP while being consistent with neutrino mass, lepton flavour violation and observed relic density.

DAMPE excess from decaying right-handed neutrino dark matter

The flux of high-energy cosmic-ray electrons plus positrons recently measured by the DArk Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE) exhibits a tentative peak excess at an energy of around 1.4 TeV. In this paper, we consider the minimal gauged U(1)[Formula: see text] model with a right-handed neutrino (RHN) dark matter (DM) and interpret the DAMPE peak with a late-time decay of the RHN DM into [Formula: see text]. We find that a DM lifetime [Formula: see text] can fit the DAMPE peak with a DM mass [Formula: see text]. This favored lifetime is close to the current bound on it by Fermi-LAT, our decaying RHN DM can be tested, once the measurement of cosmic gamma ray flux is improved. The RHN DM communicates with the Standard Model particles through the U(1)[Formula: see text] gauge boson ([Formula: see text] boson), and its thermal relic abundance is controlled by only three free parameters: [Formula: see text], the U(1)[Formula: see text] gauge coupling [Formula: see text], and the [Formula: see text] boson mass [Formula: see text]. For [Formula: see text], the rest of the parameters are restricted to be [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], in order to reproduce the observed DM relic density and to avoid the Landau pole for running [Formula: see text] below the Planck scale. This allowed region will be tested by the search for a [Formula: see text] boson resonance at the future Large Hadron Collider.

The dispirited case of gauged U(1)B \u2212 L dark matter

We explore the constraints and phenomenology of possibly the simplest scenario that could account at the same time for the active neutrino masses and the dark matter in the Universe within a gauged U(1)B − L symmetry, namely right-handed neutrino dark matter. We find that null searches from lepton and hadron colliders require dark matter with a mass below 900 GeV to annihilate through a resonance. Additionally, the very strong constraints from high-energy dilepton searches fully exclude the model for 150 GeV < {m}_{Z^{prime }} < 3 TeV. We further explore the phenomenology in the high mass region (i.e. masses ≳ mathcal{O} (1) TeV) and highlight theoretical arguments, related to the appearance of a Landau pole or an instability of the scalar potential, disfavoring large portions of this parameter space. Collectively, these considerations illustrate that a minimal extension of the Standard Model via a local U(1)B − L symmetry with a viable thermal dark matter candidate is difficult to achieve without fine-tuning. We conclude by discussing possible extensions of the model that relieve tension with collider constraints by reducing the gauge coupling required to produce the correct relic abundance.

SU(5)×U(1)X grand unification with minimal seesaw and Z′-portal dark matter

We propose a grand unified SU(5)×U(1)X model, where the standard SU(5) grand unified theory is supplemented by minimal seesaw and a right-handed neutrino dark matter with an introduction of a global Z2-parity. In the presence of three right-handed neutrinos (RHNs), the model is free from all gauge and mixed-gravitational anomalies. The SU(5) symmetry is broken into the Standard Model (SM) gauge group at MGUT≃4×1016GeV in the standard manner, while the U(1)X symmetry breaking occurs at the TeV scale, which generates the TeV-scale mass of the U(1)X gauge boson (Z′ boson) and the three Majorana RHNs. A unique Z2-odd RHN is stable and serves as the dark matter (DM) in the present Universe, while the remaining two RHNs work to generate the SM neutrino masses through the minimal seesaw. We investigate the Z′-portal RHN DM scenario in this model context. We find that the constraints from the DM relic abundance, and the Z′ boson search at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), and the perturbativity bound on the U(1)X gauge coupling are complementary to narrow down the allowed parameter region in the range of 3.0≤mZ′[TeV]≤9.2 for the Z′ boson mass. The allowed region for mZ′≤5TeV will be fully covered by the future LHC experiments. We also briefly discuss the successful implementation of Baryogenesis and cosmological inflation scenarios in the present model.

Right-handed neutrino dark matter in a U(1) extension of the Standard Model

We consider minimal U(1) extensions of the Standard Model in which one of the right-handed neutrinos is charged under the new gauge symmetry and plays the role of dark matter. In particular, we perform a detailed phenomenological study for the case of a U(1)(B−L)3 flavoured B−L symmetry. If perturbativity is required up to high-scales, we find an upper bound on the dark matter mass of mχ≲2 TeV, significantly stronger than that obtained in simplified models. Furthermore, if the U(1)(B−L)3 breaking scalar has significant mixing with the SM Higgs, there are already strong constraints from direct detection. On the other hand, there remains significant viable parameter space in the case of small mixing, which may be probed in the future via LHC Z′ searches and indirect detection. We also comment on more general anomaly-free symmetries consistent with a TeV-scale RH neutrino dark matter candidate, and show that if two heavy RH neutrinos for leptogenesis are also required, one is naturally led to a single-parameter class of U(1) symmetries.

Heavy stable charged tracks as signatures of non-thermal dark matter at the LHC: a study in some non-supersymmetric scenarios

We consider two theoretical scenarios, each including a ℤ2-odd sector and leading to an elementary dark matter candidate. The first one is a variant of the Type-III seesaw model where one lepton triplet is ℤ2-odd, together with a heavy sterile neutrino. It leads to a fermionic dark matter, together with the charged component of the triplet being a quasi-stable particle which decays only via a higher-dimensional operator suppressed by a high scale. The second model consists of an inert scalar doublet together with a ℤ2-odd right-handed Majorana neutrino dark matter. A tiny Yukawa coupling delays the decay of the charged component of the inert doublet into the dark matter candidate, making the former long-lived on the scale of collider detectors. The parameter space of each model has been constrained by big-bang nucleosynthesis constraints, and also by estimating the contribution to the relic density through freeze-out of the long-lived charged particle as well the freeze-in production of the dark matter candidate. We consider two kinds of signals at the Large Hadron Collider for each case. For the first kind of models, namely two charged tracks and single track and for the second kind, the characteristic signals are opposite as well as same-sign charged track pairs. We perform a detailed analysis using event selection criteria consistent with the current experimental programmes. It is found that the scenario with a lepton triplet can be probed upto 960 (1190) GeV with an integrated luminosity of 300 (3000) fb−1, while the corresponding numbers for the inert doublet scenario are 630 (800) GeV. Furthermore, the second kind of signal mentioned in each case allows us to differentiate different dark matter scenarios from each other.

Right-handed neutrino dark matter in left-right symmetric models

We show that in a class of non-supersymmetric left-right extensions of the Standard Model (SM), the lightest right-handed neutrino (RHN) is naturally stable and can therefore play the role of thermal Dark Matter (DM) in the Universe for a wide mass range from TeV to PeV. Our model is based on the gauge group SU(3)c × SU(2)L × SU(2)R × U(1)YL × U(1)YR in which a heavy copy of the SM fermions are introduced and the stability of the RHN DM is guaranteed by an automatic Z2 symmetry present in the leptonic sector. The active neutrino masses in the model arise from the type-II seesaw mechanism. We find a lower bound on the RHN DM mass of order TeV from relic density constraints, as well as an unitarity upper bound in the multi-TeV to PeV scale, depending on the entropy dilution factor. The RHN DM could be made long-lived by soft-breaking of the Z2 symmetry and provides a concrete example of decaying DM interpretation of the PeV neutrinos observed at IceCube.

Heavy right-handed neutrino dark matter in left–right models

We show that in a class of non-supersymmetric left–right extensions of the Standard Model (SM), the lightest right-handed neutrino (RHN) can play the role of thermal Dark Matter (DM) in the Universe for a wide mass range from TeV to PeV. Our model is based on the gauge group [Formula: see text] in which a heavy copy of the SM fermions is introduced and the stability of the RHN DM is guaranteed by an automatic [Formula: see text] symmetry present in the leptonic sector. In such models, the active neutrino masses are obtained via the type-II seesaw mechanism. We find a lower bound on the RHN DM mass of order TeV from relic density constraints, as well as a unitarity upper bound in the multi-TeV to PeV scale, depending on the entropy dilution factor. The RHN DM could be made long-lived by soft-breaking of the [Formula: see text] symmetry and provides a concrete example of decaying DM interpretation of the PeV neutrinos observed at IceCube.

Self-interacting dark matter

Self-interacting dark matter (SIDM) is a hypothetical form of dark matter (DM), characterized by relatively strong (compared to the weak interaction strength) self-interactions (SIs), which has been proposed to resolve a number of issues concerning tensions between simulations and observations at the galactic or smaller scales. We review here some recent developments discussed at the 14th Marcel Grossmann Meeting (MG14), paying particular attention to restrictions on the SIDM (total) cross-section from using novel observables in merging galactic structures, as well as the rôle of SIDM on the Milky Way halo and its central region. We report on some interesting particle-physics inspired SIDM models that were discussed at MG14, namely the glueball DM, and a right-handed neutrino DM (with mass of a few tens of keV, that may exist in minimal extensions of the standard model (SM)), interacting among themselves via vector bosons mediators in the dark sector. A detailed phenomenology of the latter model on galactic scales, as well as the potential role of the right handed neutrinos in alleviating some of the small-scale cosmology problems, namely the discrepancies between observations and numerical simulations within standard [Formula: see text]CDM and [Formula: see text]WDM cosmologies are reported.

Right-handed neutrino dark matter under the B \u2212 L gauge interaction

We study the right-handed neutrino (RHN) dark matter candidate in the minimal U(1)B−L gauge extension of the standard model. The U(1)B−L gauge symmetry offers three RHNs which can address the origin of the neutrino mass, the relic dark matter, and the matter-antimatter asymmetry of the universe. The lightest among the three is taken as the dark matter candidate, which is under the B − L gauge interaction. We investigate various scenarios for this dark matter candidate with the correct relic density by means of the freeze-out or freeze-in mechanism. A viable RHN dark matter mass lies in a wide range including keV to TeV scale. We emphasize the sub-electroweak scale light B − L gauge boson case, and identify the parameter region motivated from the dark matter physics, which can be tested with the planned experiments including the CERN SHiP experiment.

Naturally stable right-handed neutrino dark matter

We point out that a class of non-supersymmetric models based on the gauge group $SU(3)_C \times SU(2)_L\times SU(2)_R\times U(1)_{Y_L}\times U(1)_{Y_R}$ possesses an automatic, exact $Z_{2 }$ symmetry under which the fermions in the $SU(2)_R\times U(1)_{Y_R}$ sector (called $R$-sector) are odd and those in the standard model sector (called $L$-sector) are even. This symmetry, which is different from the usual parity symmetry of the left-right symmetric models, persists in the lepton sector even after the gauge symmetry breaks down to $SU(3)_C \times U(1)_{\rm EM}$. This keeps the lightest right-handed neutrino naturally stable, thereby allowing it to play the role of dark matter (DM) in the Universe. There are several differences between the usual left-right models and the model presented here: (i) our model can have two versions, one which has no parity symmetry so that the couplings and masses in the $L$ and $R$ sectors are unrelated, and another which has parity symmetry so that couplings are related; (ii) the $R$-sector fermions are chosen much heavier than the $L$-sector ones in both scenarios; and finally (iii) both light and heavy neutrinos are Majorana fermions with the light neutrino masses arising from a pure type-II seesaw mechanism. We discuss the DM relic density, direct and indirect detection prospects and associated collider signatures of the model. Comparing with current collider and direct detection constraints, we find a lower bound on the DM mass of order of 1 TeV. We also point out a way to relax the DM unitarity bound in our model for much larger DM masses by an entropy dilution mechanism. An additional feature of the model is that the DM can be made very long lived, if desired, by allowing for weak breaking of the above $Z_{2}$ symmetry. Our model also predicts the existence of long-lived colored particles which could be searched for at the LHC.

Dark matter and muon ( g − 2) in localU(1)Lμ−Lτ-extended Ma model

We consider right-handed neutrino dark matter $N_1$ in local $U(1)_{L_\mu-L_\tau}$-extended Ma model. With the light $U(1)_{\mu-\tau}$ gauge boson ($m_{Z'} \sim {\cal O}(100)$ MeV) and small $U(1)_{\mu-\tau}$ gauge coupling ($g_{Z'}\sim 10^{-4}-10^{-3}$) which can accommodate the muon $(g-2)$ anomaly and is still allowed by other experimental constraints, we show that we can get correct relic density of dark matter for wide range of dark matter mass ($M_1 \sim 10-100$ GeV), although the gauge coupling constant $g_{Z'}$ is small. This is due to the fact that the annihilation cross section of dark matter pair is enhanced by $M_1^4/m_{Z'}^4$ in the processes $N_1 N_1 \to Z' Z'$ or $N_1 N_1 \to Z' H_2$. We also consider the constraints from direct detection, collider searches.

νR Dark matter-philic Higgs for 3.5 keV X-ray signal

We suggest a new model of 7 keV right-handed neutrino dark matter inspired by a recent observation of 3.5 keV X-ray line signal in the XMM-Newton observatory. It is difficult to derive the tiny masses with a suitable left–right mixing of the neutrino in a framework of ordinary simple type-I seesaw mechanism. We introduce a new Higgs boson, a dark matter-philic Higgs boson, in which the smallness of its vacuum expectation value can be achieved. We investigate suitable parameter regions where the observed dark matter properties are satisfied. We find that the vacuum expectation value of dark matter-philic Higgs boson should be about 0.17 GeV.