Thermal WIMP Research Articles

WIMP constraints from black hole low-mass X-ray binaries

The abnormally fast orbital decay observed in the black hole (BH) Low-Mass X-ray binaries (BH-LMXB) A0620-00 and XTE J1118+480 can be explained by the dynamical friction between Dark Matter (DM) and the companion star orbiting around the low-mass BH (≃ a few M ⊙) of the system. In this case the value of the index γ sp of the DM spike surrounding the BH can be pinned down with an accuracy of ≃ a few percent, way better than that for much bigger systems such as the super massive BHs (SMBHs) in the Galactic Center or in M87. We have used data from XTE J1118+480 to put bounds on the WIMP annihilation cross section times velocity ⟨σv⟩, assuming that DM annihilation is driven by the χχ → bb̅ annihilation channel and that it proceeds in s-wave. The bounds are driven by the radio synchrotron signal produced by e ± final states propagating in the magnetic field in the vicinity of the BH. We find that for DM masses m χ up to the TeV scale XTE J1118+480 allows to constrain ⟨σv⟩ well below the standard value ⟨σv⟩thermal, corresponding to the observed DM relic density in the Universe for a thermal WIMP. On the other hand, for m χ ≳ 15 GeV, the bounds from the SMBHs in the GC or in M87 do not reach ⟨σv⟩thermal when the very large uncertainties on the corresponding spike indices are taken into account, in spite of potentially producing much larger DM densities compared to XTE J1118+480. Our bounds for XTE J1118+480 have a mild sensitivity on the effect of spatial diffusion (which implies at most a weakening of the bounds of a factor ≲ 6 at large m χ). However, diffusion is instrumental in enhancing the sensitivity of the results upon the intensity of the magnetic field. In particular, our bounds rest on the assumption that the magnetic field B reaches the equipartition value B eq. We find that a reduction factor of the magnetic field B eq/B larger than about 14 at low m χ, becoming progressively smaller at higher WIMP masses, would be sufficient to relax the XTE J1118+480 bound to the level of other existing bounds. Recent estimates, albeit not conclusive, may suggest values of B eq/B in BH-LMXB systems as large as 20. This implies that the intensity of the magnetic field in BH-LMXB systems represents the major uncertainty in using them as an alternative to heavier BHs to search for WIMPs.

Indirect detection of Dark Matter annihilating into Dark Glueballs

We examine indirect detection of dark matter that annihilates into dark glueballs, which in turn decay into the Standard Model via a range of portals. This arises if the dark matter candidate couples to a confining gauge force without light flavours, representative of many possible complex dark sectors. Such Hidden Valley scenarios are being increasingly considered due to non-detection of minimal models as well as theoretical motivations such as the Twin Higgs solution to the little hierarchy problem. Study of dark glueballs in indirect detection has previously been hampered by the difficulty of modeling their production in dark showers. We use the recent GlueShower code to produce the first constraints on dark matter annihilating via dark glueballs into the Standard Model across photon, antiproton, and positron channels. We also fit the Galactic Centre Excess and use this observation, combined with other astrophysical constraints, to show how multi-channel observations can constrain UV and IR details of the theory, namely the exact decay portal and hadronization behaviour respectively. This provides unique complementary discovery and diagnostic potential to Hidden Valley searches at colliders. It is interesting to note that thermal WIMPs annihilating to O\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\mathcal{O} $$\\end{document}(10 GeV) dark glueballs and then the SM via the Twin-Higgs-like decay portal can account for the GCE while respecting other constraints.

Updated constraints on WIMP dark matter annihilation by radio observations of M31

The present work derived the robust constraints on annihilating WIMP parameters utilizing new radio observations of M31, as well as new studies of its dark matter distribution and other properties. The characteristics of emission due to DM annihilation were computed in the frame of 2D galactic model employing GALPROP code adapted specifically for M31. This enabled us to refine various inaccuracies of previous studies on the subject. DM constraints were obtained for two representative annihilation channels: $\chi\chi \rightarrow b\overline{b}$ and $\chi\chi \rightarrow \tau^+\tau^-$. A wide variety of radio data was utilized in the frequency range $\approx$(0.1--10) GHz. As the result the thermal WIMP lighter than fiducially $\approx$ 70 GeV for $b\overline{b}$ channel and $\approx$ 40 GeV for $\tau^+\tau^-$ was excluded. The corresponding mass threshold uncertainty ranges were estimated to be 20--210 GeV and 18--89 GeV. The obtained exclusions are competitive to those from Fermi-LAT observations of dwarfs and AMS-02 measurements of antiprotons. Our constraints do not exclude the explanation of the gamma-ray outer halo of M31 and the Galactic center excess by annihilating DM. The thermal WIMP with $m_x \approx 70$ GeV, which explains the outer halo, would make a significant contribution to the non-thermal radio flux in M31 nucleus, fitting well both the spectrum and morphology. And, finally, we questioned the possibility claimed in other studies to robustly constrain heavy thermal WIMP with $m_x > 100$ GeV by radio data on M31.

Thermal WIMPs and the scale of new physics

The non-observation of conclusive dark matter signals raises the question whether WIMPs can still account for the dark matter of the universe. In this talk I will present results from a global analysis of effective field theory operators describing the interactions between WIMPs and Standard Model particles. In this bottom-up approach, the global fitting framework GAMBIT is used to simultaneously vary the coefficients of 14 such operators, along with the WIMP mass, the scale of new physics and several nuisance parameters. The likelihood functions include the latest data from Planck, direct and indirect detection experiments, and the LHC. Although the observed relic density can be reproduced in large regions of parameter space, there cannot be a large hierarchy between the dark matter mass and the scale of new physics, which raises concerns about the validity of the effective field theory. I will discuss possible ways to address this issue in order to consistently interpret the latest results from WIMP searches at the LHC.

Searching signals of dark matter from unidentified Fermi-LAT objects with H.E.S.S

Milky Way-sized galaxies harbor a population of unmerged dark matter subhalos, as shown from cosmological N-body simulations. These subhalos could shine in gamma-rays and be eventually detected as unidentified sources in gamma-ray surveys. From a thorough selection of unidentified Fermi-LAT Objects (UFOs), we observe four UFOs with H.E.S.S. and we search for very high-energy (VHE, E ≥ 100 GeV) gamma-ray emission. Considering dark matter masses above a few hundred GeV, the observed UFOs could be identified as dark matter subhalos, given their hard gamma-ray spectra in the few-ten-to-hundred GeV energy range. Since no significant very-high-energy gamma-ray emission is detected in any of the four UFOs dataset nor in the combined one, we derive constraints on the product of the velocity-weighted annihilation cross-section 〈συ〉 by the J-factor for the dark matter models. We derive 95% CL upper limits on 〈συ〉 J in W + W − and τ+τ− annihilation channels for the TeV dark matter particles. Considering thermal WIMPs, we derive constraints on the J-factors from the H.E.S.S. observations. Assuming model-dependent predictions from cosmological N-body simulations on the J-factor distribution for Milky Way-sized galaxies, the dark matter models with masses greater than 0.3 TeV for the UFO emissions can be ruled out at high confidence level.

Thermal WIMPs and the scale of new physics: global fits of Dirac dark matter effective field theories

We assess the status of a wide class of WIMP dark matter (DM) models in light of the latest experimental results using the global fitting framework GAMBIT. We perform a global analysis of effective field theory (EFT) operators describing the interactions between a gauge-singlet Dirac fermion and the Standard Model quarks, the gluons and the photon. In this bottom-up approach, we simultaneously vary the coefficients of 14 such operators up to dimension 7, along with the DM mass, the scale of new physics and several nuisance parameters. Our likelihood functions include the latest data from Planck, direct and indirect detection experiments, and the LHC. For DM masses below 100 GeV, we find that it is impossible to satisfy all constraints simultaneously while maintaining EFT validity at LHC energies. For new physics scales around 1 TeV, our results are influenced by several small excesses in the LHC data and depend on the prescription that we adopt to ensure EFT validity. Furthermore, we find large regions of viable parameter space where the EFT is valid and the relic density can be reproduced, implying that WIMPs can still account for the DM of the universe while being consistent with the latest data.

Thermal real scalar triplet dark matter

Real scalar triplet dark matter, which is known to be an attractive candidate for a thermal WIMP, is comprehensively studied paying particular attention to the Sommerfeld effect on the dark matter annihilation caused by the weak interaction and the other interaction between the dark matter and the Higgs boson. We find a parameter region that includes the so-called ‘WIMP-Miracle’ one is still surviving, i.e. it respects all constraints imposed by dark matter searches at collider experiments, underground experiments (direct detection) and astrophysical observations (indirect detection). The region is also found to be efficiently searched for by various near future experiments. In particular, the XENONnT experiment will cover almost the entire parameter region.

Shining primordial black holes

We study the well-motivated mixed dark matter (DM) scenario composed of a dominant thermal WIMP, highlighting the case of $SU(2{)}_{L}$ triplet fermion ``winos,'' with a small fraction of primordial black holes (PBHs). After the wino kinetic decoupling, the DM particles are captured by PBHs leading to the presence of PBHs with dark minihalos in the Milky Way today. The strongest constraints for the wino DM come from the production of narrow line gamma rays from wino annihilation in the Galactic Center. We analyse in detail the viability of the mixed wino DM scenario, and determine the constraints on the fraction of DM in PBHs assuming a cored halo profile in the Milky Way. We show that already with the sensitivity of current indirect searches, there is a significant probability for detecting a gamma ray signal characteristic for the wino annihilation in a single nearby dressed PBH when ${M}_{\mathrm{PBH}}\ensuremath{\sim}{M}_{\ensuremath{\bigodot}}$, which we refer to as a ``shining black hole.'' Similar results should apply also in more general setups with ultracompact minihalos or other DM models, since the accretion of DM around large overdensities and DM annihilation are both quite generic processes.

A minimal model for neutral naturalness and pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone dark matter

We outline a scenario where both the Higgs and a complex scalar dark matter candidate arise as the pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone bosons of breaking a global SO(7) symmetry to SO(6). The novelty of our construction is that the symmetry partners of the Standard Model top-quark are charged under a hidden color group and not the usual SU(3)c. Consequently, the scale of spontaneous symmetry breaking and the masses of the top partners can be significantly lower than those with colored top partners. Taking these scales to be lower at once makes the model more natural and also reduces the induced non-derivative coupling between the Higgs and the dark matter. Indeed, natural realizations of this construction describe simple thermal WIMP dark matter which is stable under a global U(1)D symmetry. We show how the Large Hadron Collider along with current and next generation dark matter experiments will explore the most natural manifestations of this framework.

Spectral and spatial analysis of the dark matter subhalo candidates among Fermi Large Area Telescope unidentified sources

Fermi-LAT unidentified sources (unIDs) have proven to be compelling targets for performing indirect dark matter (DM) searches. In a previous work, we found that among the 1235 unIDs in Fermi-LAT's catalogs (3FGL, 2FHL and 3FHL) only 44 of those are DM subhalos candidates. We now implement a spectral analysis to test whether these remaining sources are compatible or not with DM origin. This analysis is executed using almost 10 years of Pass 8 Fermi-LAT data. None of the unIDs are found to significantly prefer DM-induced emission compared to other, more conventional, astrophysical sources. In order to discriminate between pulsar and DM sources, we developed a new method which is based on the source's spectral curvature, peak energy, and its detection significance. We also look for spatial extension, which may be a hint for a DM origin according to our N-body simulation studies of the subhalo population. In addition, we used Gaia DR2 data to search for a potential stellar counterpart to our best DM subhalo candidates and, although no firm associations could be found, one of them coincides with the Sagittarius stream. Finally, previous constraints on the DM annihilation cross section are updated with the new number of remaining DM subhalo candidates among unIDs. Our limits now rule out canonical thermal WIMPs up to masses of 10 GeV for bb̄ and 20 GeV for τ+τ− annihilation channels, in this way being as sensitive and complementary to those obtained from other targets and probes.

Testing dark matter with Cherenkov light \u2014 prospects of H.E.S.S. and CTA for exploring minimal supersymmetry

We provide an updated and improved study of the prospects of the H.E.S.S. and Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) experiments in testing neutralino dark matter in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model with nine free parameters (p9MSSM). We include all relevant experimental constraints and theoretical developments, in particular a calculation of the Sommerfeld enhancement for both present-day annihilations and the relic abundance. We perform a state-of-the-art analysis of the CTA sensitivity with a log- likelihood test ratio statistics and apply it to a numerical scan of the p9MSSM parameter space focusing on a TeV scale dark matter. We find that, assuming Einasto profile of dark matter halo in the Milky Way, H.E.S.S. has already been able to nearly reach the so-called thermal WIMP value, while CTA will go below it by providing a further improvement of at least an order of magnitude. Both H.E.S.S. and CTA are sensitive to several cases for which direct detection cross section will be below the so-called neutrino floor, with H.E.S.S. being sensitive to most of the wino region, while CTA also covering a large fraction of the ∼1 TeV higgsino region. We show that CTA sensitivity will be further improved in the monochromatic photon search mode for both single-component and underabundant dark matter.

Tev-scale thermal WIMPs: Unitarity and its consequences

We re-examine unitarity bounds on the annihilation cross section of thermal-WIMP dark matter. For high-mass pointlike dark matter, it is generic to form WIMP bound states, which, together with Sommerfeld enhancement, affects the relic abundance. We show that these effects lower the unitarity bound from 139 TeV to below 100 TeV for non-self-conjugate dark matter and from 195 TeV (the oft-quoted value of 340 TeV assumes $\Omega_{DM} h^2 = 1$) to 140 TeV for the self-conjugate case. For composite dark matter, for which the unitarity limit on the radius was thought to be mass-independent, we show that the largest allowed mass is 1 PeV. In addition, we find important new effects for annihilation in the late universe. For example, while the production of high-energy light fermions in WIMP annihilation is suppressed by helicity, we show that bound-state formation changes this. Coupled with rapidly improving experimental sensitivity to TeV-range gamma rays, cosmic rays, and neutrinos, our results give new hope to attack the thermal-WIMP mass range from the high-mass end.

FIMP dark matter candidate(s) in a B \u2212 L model with inverse seesaw mechanism

The non-thermal dark matter (DM) production via the so-called freeze-in mechanism provides a simple alternative to the standard thermal WIMP scenario. In this work, we consider a popular U(1)B−L extension of the standard model (SM) in the context of inverse seesaw mechanism which has at least one (fermionic) FIMP DM candidate. Due to the added ℤ2 symmetry, a SM gauge singlet fermion, with mass of order keV, is stable and can be a warm DM candidate. Also, the same ℤ2 symmetry helps the lightest right-handed neutrino, with mass of order GeV, to be a stable or long-lived particle by making a corresponding Yukawa coupling very small. This provides a possibility of a two component DM scenario as well. Firstly, in the absence of a GeV DM component (i.e., without tuning its corresponding Yukawa coupling to be very small), we consider only a keV DM as a single component DM, which is produced by the freeze-in mechanism via the decay of the extra Z′ gauge boson associated to U(1)B−L and can consistently explain the DM relic density measurements. In contrast with most of the existing literature, we have found a reasonable DM production from the annihilation processes. After numerically studying the DM production, we show the dependence of the DM relic density as a function of its relevant free parameters. We use these results to obtain the parameter space regions that are compatible with the DM relic density bound. Secondly, we study a two component DM scenario and emphasize that the current DM relic density bound can be satisfied for a wide range of parameter space.

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.

Is natural higgsino-only dark matter excluded?

The requirement of electroweak naturalness in supersymmetric (SUSY) models of particle physics necessitates light higgsinos not too far from the weak scale characterized by m_{weak}sim m_{W,Z,h}sim 100hbox { GeV}. On the other hand, LHC Higgs mass measurements and sparticle mass limits point to a SUSY breaking scale in the multi-TeV regime. Under such conditions, the lightest SUSY particle is expected to be a mainly higgsino-like neutralino with non-negligible gaugino components (required by naturalness). The computed thermal WIMP abundance in natural SUSY models is then found to be typically a factor 5–20 below its measured value. To gain concordance with observations, either an additional DM particle (the axion is a well-motivated possibility) must be present or additional non-thermal mechanisms must augment the neutralino abundance. We compare present direct and indirect WIMP detection limits to three natural SUSY models based on gravity-, anomaly- and mirage-mediation. We show that the case of natural higgsino-only dark matter where non-thermal production mechanisms augment its relic density, is essentially excluded by a combination of direct detection constraints from PandaX-II, LUX and Xenon-1t experiments, and by bounds from Fermi-LAT/MAGIC observations of gamma rays from dwarf spheroidal galaxies.

Non-thermal WIMP baryogenesis

We propose a model of baryogenesis achieved by the annihilation of non-thermally produced WIMPs from decay of heavy particles, which can result in low reheating temperature. Dark matter (DM) can be produced non-thermally during a reheating period created by the decay of long-lived heavy particle, and subsequently re-annihilate to lighter particles even after the thermal freeze-out. The re-annihilation of DM provides the observed baryon asymmetry as well as the correct relic density of DM. We investigate how washout effects can affect the generation of the baryon asymmetry and study a model suppressing them. In this scenario, we find that DM can be heavy enough and its annihilation cross section can also be larger than that adopted in the usual thermal WIMP baryogenesis.

The galactic isotropic γ-ray background and implications for dark matter

We present an analysis of the radial angular profile of the galacto-isotropic (GI) $\gamma$-ray flux--the statistically uniform flux in circular annuli about the Galactic center. Two different approaches are used to measure the GI flux profile in 85 months of Fermi-LAT data: the BDS statistic method which identifies spatial correlations, and a new Poisson ordered-pixel method which identifies non-Poisson contributions. Both methods produce similar GI flux profiles. The GI flux profile is well-described by an existing model of bremsstrahlung, $\pi^0$ production, inverse Compton scattering, and the isotropic background. Discrepancies with data in our full-sky model are not present in the GI component, and are therefore due to mis-modeling of the non-GI emission. Dark matter annihilation constraints based solely on the observed GI profile are close to the thermal WIMP cross section below 100 GeV, for fixed models of the dark matter density profile and astrophysical $\gamma$-ray foregrounds. Refined measurements of the GI profile are expected to improve these constraints by a factor of a few.

A precision search for WIMPs with charged cosmic rays

AMS-02 has reached the sensitivity to probe canonical thermal WIMPs by their annihilation into antiprotons. Due to the high precision of the data, uncertainties in the astrophysical background have become the most limiting factor for indirect dark matter detection. In this work we systematically quantify and—where possible—reduce uncertainties in the antiproton background. We constrain the propagation of charged cosmic rays through the combination of antiproton, B/C and positron data. Cross section uncertainties are determined from a wide collection of accelerator data and are—for the first time ever—fully taken into account. This allows us to robustly constrain even subdominant dark matter signals through their spectral properties. For a standard NFW dark matter profile we are able to exclude thermal WIMPs with masses up to 570 GeV which annihilate into bottom quarks. While we confirm a reported excess compatible with dark matter of mass around 80 GeV, its local (global) significance only reaches 2.2 σ (1.1 σ) in our analysis.

Superparticle phenomenology from the natural mini-landscape

The methodology of the heterotic mini-landscape attempts to zero in on phenomenologically viable corners of the string landscape where the effective low energy theory is the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model with localized grand unification. The gaugino mass pattern is that of mirage-mediation. The magnitudes of various SM Yukawa couplings point to a picture where scalar soft SUSY breaking terms are related to the geography of fields in the compactified dimensions. Higgs fields and third generation scalars extend to the bulk and occur in split multiplets with TeV scale soft masses. First and second generation scalars, localized at orbifold fixed points or tori with enhanced symmetry, occur in complete GUT multiplets and have much larger masses. This picture can be matched onto the parameter space of generalized mirage mediation. Naturalness considerations, the requirement of the observed electroweak symmetry breaking pattern, and LHC bounds on mg together limit the gravitino mass to the m3/2 ∼ 5-60 TeV range. The mirage unification scale is bounded from below with the limit depending on the ratio of squark to gravitino masses. We show that while natural SUSY in this realization may escape detection even at the high luminosity LHC, the high energy LHC with sqrt{s}=33 TeV could unequivocally confirm or exclude this scenario. It should be possible to detect the expected light higgsinos at the ILC if these are kinematically accessible, and possibly also discriminate the expected compression of gaugino masses in the natural mini-landscape picture from the mass pattern expected in models with gaugino mass unification. The thermal WIMP signal should be accessible via direct detection searches at the multi-ton noble liquid detectors such as XENONnT or LZ.

Phenomenological signatures of mixed complex scalar WIMP dark matter

We discuss phenomenological aspects of models whose scalar sector is extended by an isospin doublet scalar and a complex singlet scalar as an effective theory of supersymmetric models with mixed sneutrinos. In such models, the lighter of the mixed neutral scalars can become a viable dark matter (DM) candidate by imposing a global U(1) symmetry. We find that the thermal WIMP scenario is consistent with the cosmological DM abundance when the mass of the scalar is half of that of the discovered Higgs boson or larger than around 100 GeV. We also point out that, with an additional isospin singlet Majorana fermion mediator, even the mass of the scalar WIMP less than around 5 GeV is compatible with the observed DM abundance. We show that such cosmologically allowed regions can be explored at future collider experiments and DM detections.