Spin-independent Research Articles

Status and prospects of light bino\u2013higgsino dark matter in natural SUSY

Given the recent progress in dark matter direction detection experiments, we examine a light bino–higgsino dark matter (DM) scenario (M_1<100 GeV and mu <300 GeV) in natural supersymmetry with the electroweak fine tuning measure Delta _mathrm{EW}<30. By imposing various constraints, we note that: (i) For mathrm{sign}(mu /M_1)=+1, the parameter space allowed by the DM relic density and collider bounds can almost be excluded by the very recent spin-independent (SI) scattering cross-section limits from the XENON1T (2017) experiment. (ii) For mathrm{sign}(mu /M_1)=-1, the SI limits can be evaded due to the cancelation effects in the htilde{chi }^0_1tilde{chi }^0_1 coupling, while rather stringent constraints come from the PandaX-II (2016) spin-dependent (SD) scattering cross-section limits, which can exclude the higgsino mass |mu | and the LSP mass m_{tilde{chi }^0_1} up to about 230 and 37 GeV, respectively. Furthermore, the surviving parameter space will be fully covered by the projected XENON1T experiment or the future trilepton searches at the HL-LHC.

Perspectives of direct detection of supersymmetric dark matter in the NMSSM

In the Next-to-Minimal-Supersymmetric-Standard-Model (NMSSM) the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP) is a candidate for the dark matter (DM) in the universe. It is a mixture from the various gauginos and Higgsinos and can be bino-, Higgsino- or singlino-dominated. Singlino-dominated LSPs can have very low cross sections below the neutrino background from coherent neutrino scattering which is limiting the sensitivity of future direct DM search experiments. However, previous studies suggested that the combination of both, the spin-dependent (SD) and spin-independent (SI) searches are sensitive in complementary regions of parameter space, so considering both searches will allow to explore practically the whole parameter space of the NMSSM. In this letter, the different scenarios are investigated with a new scanning technique, which reveals that significant regions of the NMSSM parameter space cannot be explored, even if one considers both, SI and SD, searches.

Unblinding the dark matter blind spots

The dark matter (DM) blind spots in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) refer to the parameter regions where the couplings of the DM particles to the Z-boson or the Higgs boson are almost zero, leading to vanishingly small signals for the DM direct detections. In this paper, we carry out comprehensive analyses for the DM searches under the blind-spot scenarios in MSSM. Guided by the requirement of acceptable DM relic abundance, we explore the complementary coverage for the theory parameters at the LHC, the projection for the future underground DM direct searches, and the indirect searches from the relic DM annihilation into photons and neutrinos. We find that (i) the spin-independent (SI) blind spots may be rescued by the spin-dependent (SD) direct detection in the future underground experiments, and possibly by the indirect DM detections from IceCube and SuperK neutrino experiments; (ii) the detection of gamma rays from Fermi-LAT may not reach the desirable sensitivity for searching for the DM blind-spot regions; (iii) the SUSY searches at the LHC will substantially extend the discovery region for the blind-spot parameters. The dark matter blind spots thus may be unblinded with the collective efforts in future DM searches.

Strong constraints of LUX-2016 results on the natural NMSSM

Given the fact that the relatively light Higgsino mass $\mu$ favored in natural supersymmetry usually results in a sizable scattering cross section between the neutralino dark matter and the nucleon, we study the impact of the recently updated direct detection bounds from LUX experiment, including both Spin Independent (SI) and Spin Dependent (SD) measurements, on the parameter space of natural Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (nNMSSM). Different from the common impression that the SI bound is stronger than the SD one, we find that the SD bound is complementary to the SI bound and in some cases much more powerful than the latter in limiting the nNMSSM scenarios. After considering the LUX results, nNMSSM is severely limited, e.g. for the peculiar scenarios of the NMSSM where the next-to-lightest CP-even Higgs corresponds to the $125 {\rm GeV}$ Higgs boson discovered at the LHC, the samples obtained in our random scan are excluded by more than $85\%$. By contrast, the monojet search at the LHC Run-I can not exclude any sample of nNMSSM. We also investigate the current status of nNMSSM and conclude that, although the parameter points with low fine tuning are still attainable, they are distributed in some isolated parameter islands which are difficult to get. Future dark matter direct search experiments such as XENON-1T will provide a better test of nNMSSM.

Magnetized liquid 3He at finite temperature: A variational calculation approach

Using the spin-dependent (SD) and spin-independent (SI) correlation functions, we have investigated the properties of liquid [Formula: see text] in the presence of magnetic field at finite temperature. Our calculations have been done using the variational method based on cluster expansion of the energy functional. Our results show that the low field magnetic susceptibility obeys Curie law at high temperatures. This behavior is in a good agreement with the experimental data as well as the molecular field theory results in which the spin dependency has been introduced in correlation function. Reduced susceptibility as a function of temperature as well as reduced temperature has been also investigated, and again we have seen that the spin-dependent correlation function leads to a good agreement with the experimental data. The Landau parameter, [Formula: see text], has been calculated, and for this parameter, a value about [Formula: see text] has been found in the case of spin–spin correlation. In the case of spin-independent correlation function, this value is about [Formula: see text]. Therefore, inclusion of spin dependency in the correlation function leads to a more compatible value of [Formula: see text] with experimental data. The magnetization and susceptibility of liquid [Formula: see text] have also been investigated as a function of magnetic field. Our results show a downward curvature in magnetization of system with spin-dependent correlation for all densities and relevant temperatures. A metamagnetic behavior has been observed as a maximum in susceptibility versus magnetic field, when the spin–spin correlation has been considered. This maximum occurs at [Formula: see text] for all densities and temperatures. This behavior has not been observed in the case of spin-independent correlation function.

On the evaporation of solar dark matter: spin-independent effective operators

As a part of the effort to investigate the implications of dark matter (DM)-nucleon effective interactions on the solar DM detection, in this paper we focus on the evaporation of the solar DM for a set of the DM-nucleon spin-independent (SI) effective operators. In order to put the evaluation of the evaporation rate on a more reliable ground, we calculate the non-thermal distribution of the solar DM using the Monte Carlo methods, rather than adopting the Maxwellian approximation. We then specify relevant signal parameter spaces for the solar DM detection for various SI effective operators. Based on the analysis, we determine the minimum DM masses for which the DM-nucleon coupling strengths can be probed from the solar neutrino observations. As an interesting application, our investigation also shows that evaporation effect can not be neglectd in a recent proposal aiming to solve the solar abundance problem by invoking the momentum-dependent asymmetric DM in the Sun.

Composite scalar dark matter from vector-like SU(2) confinement

A toy-model with [Formula: see text] dynamics confined at high scales [Formula: see text] enables to construct Dirac UV completion from the original chiral multiplets predicting a vector-like nature of their weak interactions consistent with electroweak precision tests. In this work, we investigate a potential of the lightest scalar baryon-like (T-baryon) state [Formula: see text] with mass [Formula: see text] predicted by the simplest two-flavor vector-like confinement model as a dark matter (DM) candidate. We show that two different scenarios with the T-baryon relic abundance formation before and after the electroweak (EW) phase transition epoch lead to symmetric (or mixed) and asymmetric DM, respectively. Such a DM candidate evades existing direct DM detection constraints since its vector coupling to [Formula: see text] boson absents at tree level, while one-loop gauge boson mediated contribution is shown to be vanishingly small close to the threshold. The dominating spin-independent (SI) T-baryon–nucleon scattering goes via tree-level Higgs boson exchange in the [Formula: see text]-channel. The corresponding bound on the effective T-baryon–Higgs coupling has been extracted from the recent LUX data and turns out to be consistent with naive expectations from the light technipion case [Formula: see text]. The latter provides the most stringent phenomenological constraint on strongly-coupled [Formula: see text] dynamics so far. Future prospects for direct and indirect scalar T-baryon DM searches in astrophysics as well as in collider measurements have been discussed.

On the importance of direct detection combined limits for spin independent and spin dependent dark matter interactions

In this work we show how the inclusion of dark matter (DM) direct detection upper bounds in a theoretically consistent manner can affect the allowed parameter space of a DM model. Traditionally, the limits from DM direct detection experiments on the elastic scattering cross section of DM particles as a function of their mass are extracted under simplifying assumptions. Relaxing the assumptions related to the DM particle nature, such as the neutron to proton ratio of the interactions, or the possibility of having similar contributions from the spin independent (SI) and spin dependent (SD) interactions can vary significantly the upper limits. Furthermore, it is known that astrophysical and nuclear uncertainties can also affect the upper bounds. To exemplify the impact of properly including all these factors, we have analysed two well motivated and popular DM scenarios: neutralinos in the NMSSM and a Z′ portal with Dirac DM. We have found that the allowed parameter space of these models is subject to important variations when one includes both the SI and SD interactions at the same time, realistic neutron to proton ratios, as well as using different self-consistent speed distributions corresponding to popular DM halo density profiles, and distinct SD structure functions. Finally, we provide all the necessary information to include the upper bounds of SuperCDMS and LUX taking into account all these subtleties in the investigation of any particle physics model. The data for each experiment and example codes are available at this site http://goo.gl/1CDFYi, and their use is detailed in the appendices of this work.

Extracting constraints from direct detection searches of supersymmetric dark matter in the light of null results from the LHC in the squark sector

The comparison of the results of direct detection of Dark Matter, obtained with various target nuclei, requires model-dependent, or even arbitrary, assumptions. Indeed, to draw conclusions either the spin-dependent (SD) or the spin-independent (SI) interaction has to be neglected. In the light of the null results from supersymmetry searches at the LHC, the squark sector is pushed to high masses. We show that for a squark sector at the TeV scale, the framework used to extract contraints from direct detection searches can be redefined as the number of free parameters is reduced. Moreover, the correlation observed between SI and SD proton cross sections constitutes a key issue for the development of the next generation of Dark Matter detectors.

New directional signatures from the nonrelativistic effective field theory of dark matter

The framework of non-relativistic effective field theory (NREFT) aims to generalise the standard analysis of direct detection experiments in terms of spin-dependent (SD) and spin-independent (SI) interactions. We show that a number of NREFT operators lead to distinctive new directional signatures, such as prominent ring-like features in the directional recoil rate, even for relatively low mass WIMPs. We discuss these signatures and how they could affect the interpretation of future results from directional detectors. We demonstrate that considering a range of possible operators introduces a factor of 2 uncertainty in the number of events required to confirm the median recoil direction of the signal. Furthermore, using directional detection, it is possible to distinguish the more general NREFT interactions from the standard SI/SD interactions at the $2\sigma$ level with $\mathcal{O}(100-500)$ events. In particular, we demonstrate that for certain NREFT operators, directional sensitivity provides the only method of distinguishing them from these standard operators, highlighting the importance of directional detectors in probing the particle physics of dark matter.

Supersymmetry explanation of the Fermi Galactic Center excess and its test at LHC run II

We explore the explanation of the Fermi Galactic Center Excess (GCE) in the Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model. We systematically consider various experimental constraints including the Dark Matter (DM) relic density, DM direct detection results and indirect searches from dwarf galaxies. We find that, for DM with mass ranging from $30 {\rm GeV}$ to $40 {\rm GeV}$, the GCE can be explained by the annihilation $\chi \chi \to a^\ast \to b \bar{b}$ only when the CP-odd scalar satisfies $m_a \simeq 2 m_\chi$, and in order to obtain the measured DM relic density, a sizable $Z$-mediated contribution to DM annihilation must intervene in the early universe. As a result, the higgsino mass $\mu$ is upper bounded by about 350 GeV. Detailed Monte Carlo simulations on the $3\ell+ E_T^{miss}$ signal from neutralino/chargino associated production at 14-TeV LHC indicate that the explanation can be mostly (completely) excluded at $95\%$ C.L. with an integrated luminosity of 100(200) fb$^{-1}$. We also discuss the implication of possible large $Z$ coupling to DM for the DM-nucleon spin dependent (SD) scattering cross section, and find that although the current experimental bounds on $\sigma^{\rm SD}_p$ is less stringent than the spin independent (SI) results, the future XENON-1T and LZ data may be capable of testing most parts of the GCE-favored parameter region.

Scintillating bolometers: A key for determining WIMP parameters

In the last decade direct detection Dark Matter (DM) experiments have increased enormously their sensitivity and ton-scale setups have been proposed, especially using germanium and xenon targets with double readout and background discrimination capabilities. In light of this situation, we study the prospects for determining the parameters of Weakly Interacting Massive Particle (WIMP) DM (mass, spin-dependent (SD) and spin-independent (SI) cross-section off nucleons) by combining the results of such experiments in the case of a hypothetical detection. In general, the degeneracy between the SD and SI components of the scattering cross-section can only be removed using targets with different sensitivities to these components. Scintillating bolometers, with particle discrimination capability, very good energy resolution and threshold and a wide choice of target materials, are an excellent tool for a multitarget complementary DM search. We investigate how the simultaneous use of scintillating targets with different SD-SI sensitivities and/or light isotopes (as the case of CaF2and NaI ) significantly improves the determination of the WIMP parameters. In order to make the analysis more realistic we include the effect of uncertainties in the halo model and in the spin-dependent nuclear structure functions, as well as the effect of a thermal quenching different from 1.

Complementarity of dark matter direct detection: the role of bolometric targets

We study how the combined observation of dark matter in various direct detection experiments can be used to determine the phenomenological properties of WIMP dark matter: mass, spin-dependent (SD) and spin-independent (SI) scattering cross section off nucleons. A convenient choice of target materials, including nuclei that couple to dark matter particles through a significantly different ratio of SD vs SI interactions, could break the degeneracies in the determination of those parameters that a single experiment cannot discriminate. In this work we investigate different targets that can be used as scintillating bolometers and could provide complementary information to germanium and xenon detectors. We observe that Al2O3 and LiF bolometers could allow a good reconstruction of the DM properties over regions of the parameter space with a SD scattering cross section as small as 10−5 pb and a SI cross section as small as 5 × 10−10 pb for a 50 GeV WIMP. In the case of a CaWO4 bolometer the area in which full complementarity is obtained is smaller but we show that it can be used to determine the WIMP mass and its SI cross section. For each target we study the required exposure and background.

DEVELOPMENT OF SCINTILLATING BOLOMETERS FOR DARK MATTER SEARCHES

Scintillating bolometers, in which the simultaneous detection of light and heat allows to discriminate the nature of the interacting particle, are one of the most promising detectors for Dark Matter (DM) searches. One main advantage is the wide range of materials that can be used as target, that could provide a key for WIMP identification. The EURECA (European Underground Rare Event Calorimeter Array) project aims to install 1 ton of cryogenic detectors ( Ge and solid state scintillators) to explore the spin independent (SI) scalar cross sections down to the 10-46 cm2 region. In this frame, the ROSEBUD collaboration is developing low temperature scintillating materials to be installed at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory. Work on 6 Li and 10 B based targets, that could allow to monitor the thermal and fast neutron flux within the experiments, is also presented.

Neutrinos from WIMP annihilation in the Sun: Implications of a self-consistent model of the Milky Way’s dark matter halo

Upper limits on the spin-independent (SI) as well as spin-dependent (SD) elastic scattering cross sections of WIMPs with protons, imposed by the Super-Kamiokande (S-K) upper limit on the neutrino flux from WIMP annihilation in the Sun, and their compatibility with the "DAMA-compatible" regions of the WIMP parameter space within which the annual modulation signal observed by the DAMA/LIBRA experiment is compatible with the null results of other direct detection experiments, are studied within the frame work of a self-consistent model of the finite-size dark matter (DM) halo of the Galaxy, the parameters of which are determined by a fit to the rotation curve data of the Galaxy. We find that the S-K implied upper limits on the WIMP-proton elastic cross section as a function of WIMP mass impose stringent restrictions on the branching fractions of the various WIMP annihilation channels. For SI interaction, while the S-K upper limits are consistent with the DAMA-compatible region of the WIMP parameter space if the WIMPs annihilate dominantly to $\bbarb$\ and/or $\cbarc$, portions of the DAMA-compatible region can be excluded if WIMP annihilations to $\tautau$ and $\nu\anu$ occur at larger than ~ 10% and 0.1% levels, respectively. For SD interaction, the restrictions on the possible annihilation channels are much more stringent, essentially ruling out the DAMA-compatible region of the WIMP parameter space if the relatively low-mass ($\sim$ 2 -- 20 GeV) WIMPs under consideration annihilate predominantly to any mixture of $\bbarb$, \ $\cbarc$, \ $\tautau$, \ and $\nu\anu$ final states.

Detection prospects for Majorana fermion WIMPless dark matter

We consider both velocity-dependent and velocity-independent contributions to spin-dependent (SD) and spin-independent (SI) nuclear scattering (including one-loop corrections) of WIMPless dark matter, in the case where the dark matter candidate is a Majorana fermion. We find that spin-independent scattering arises only from the mixing of exotic squarks, or from velocity-dependent terms. Nevertheless (and contrary to the case of MSSM neutralino WIMPs), we find a class of models which cannot be detected through SI scattering, but can be detected at IceCube/DeepCore through SD scattering. We study the detection prospects for both SI and SD detection strategies for a large range of Majorana fermion WIMPless model parameters.

Determining ratios of WIMP-nucleon cross sections from direct dark matter detection data

Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) are one of the leading candidates for Dark Matter. So far the usual procedure for constraining the WIMP-nucleon cross sections in direct Dark Matter detection experiments have been to fit the predicted event rate based on some model(s) of the Galactic halo and of WIMPs to experimental data. One has to assume whether the spin-independent (SI) or the spin-dependent (SD) WIMP-nucleus interaction dominates, and results of such data analyses are also expressed as functions of the as yet unknown WIMP mass. In this article, I introduce methods for extracting information on the WIMP-nucleon cross sections by considering a general combination of the SI and SD interactions. Neither prior knowledge about the local density and the velocity distribution of halo WIMPs nor about their mass is needed. Assuming that an exponential-like shape of the recoil spectrum is confirmed from experimental data, the required information are only the measured recoil energies (in low energy ranges) and the number of events in the first energy bin from two or more experiments.

XENON10/100 dark matter constraints in comparison with CoGeNT and DAMA: Examining theLeffdependence

We consider the compatibility of DAMA/LIBRA, CoGeNT, XENON10 and XENON100 results for spin-independent (SI) dark matter weakly interacting massive particles, particularly at low masses ($\ensuremath{\sim}10\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$), assuming a standard dark matter halo. The XENON bounds depend on the scintillation efficiency factor ${\mathcal{L}}_{\mathrm{eff}}$ for which there is considerable uncertainty. Thus we consider various extrapolations for ${\mathcal{L}}_{\mathrm{eff}}$ at low energy. With the ${\mathcal{L}}_{\mathrm{eff}}$ measurements we consider, XENON100 results are found to be insensitive to the low-energy extrapolation. We find the strongest bounds are from XENON10, rather than XENON100, due to the lower energy threshold. For reasonable choices of ${\mathcal{L}}_{\mathrm{eff}}$ and for the case of SI elastic scattering, XENON10 is incompatible with the DAMA/LIBRA $3\ensuremath{\sigma}$ region and severely constrains the 7--12 GeV WIMP mass region of interest published by the CoGeNT Collaboration.

Neutrino constraints on inelastic dark matter after CDMS II results

We discuss the neutrino constraints from solar and terrestrial dark matter (DM) annihilations in the inelastic dark matter (iDM) scenario after the recent CDMS II results. To reconcile the DAMA/LIBRA data with constraints from all other direct experiments, the iDM needs to be light ($m_\chi < 100$ GeV) and have a large DM-nucleon cross section ($\sigma_n \sim$ 10$^{-4}$ pb in the spin-independent (SI) scattering and $\sigma_n \sim$ 10 pb in the spin-dependent (SD) scattering). The dominant contribution to the iDM capture in the Sun is from scattering off Fe/Al in the SI/SD case. Current bounds from Super-Kamiokande exclude the hard DM annihilation channels, such as $W^+W^-$, $ZZ$, $t\bar{t}$ and $\tau^+ \tau^-$. For soft channels such as $b\bar{b}$ and $c \bar{c}$, the limits are loose, but could be tested or further constrained by future IceCube plus DeepCore. For neutrino constraints from the DM annihilation in the Earth, due to the weaker gravitational effect of the Earth and inelastic capture condition, the constraint exists only for small mass splitting $\delta <$ 40 keV and $m_\chi \sim (10, 50)$ GeV even in the $\tau^+ \tau^-$ channel.

Implications of a scalar dark force for terrestrial experiments

A long range Weak Equivalence Principle (WEP) violating force between Dark Matter (DM) particles, mediated by an ultralight scalar, is tightly constrained by galactic dynamics and large scale structure formation. We examine the implications of such a "dark force" for several terrestrial experiments, including Eotvos tests of the WEP, direct-detection DM searches, and collider studies. The presence of a dark force implies a non-vanishing effect in Eotvos tests that could be probed by current and future experiments depending on the DM model. For scalar singlet DM scenarios, a dark force of astrophysically relevant magnitude is ruled out in large regions of parameter space by the DM relic density and WEP constraints. WEP tests also imply constraints on the Higgs-exchange contributions to the spin-independent (SI) DM-nucleus direct detection cross-section. For WIMP scenarios, these considerations constrain Higgs-exchange contributions to the SI cross-section to be subleading compared to gauge-boson mediated contributions. In multicomponent DM scenarios, a dark force would preclude large shifts in the rate for Higgs decay to two photons associated with DM-multiplet loops that might otherwise lead to measurable deviations at the LHC or a future linear collider. The combination of observations from galactic dynamics, large scale structure formation, Eotvos experiments, DM-direct-detection experiments, and colliders can further constrain the size of new long range forces in the dark sector.