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Hidden vector dark matter (0811.0172v2)

Published 3 Nov 2008 in hep-ph

Abstract: We show that dark matter could be made of massive gauge bosons whose stability doesn't require to impose by hand any discrete or global symmetry. Stability of gauge bosons can be guaranteed by the custodial symmetry associated to the gauge symmetry and particle content of the model. The particle content we consider to this end is based on a hidden sector made of a vector multiplet associated to a non-abelian gauge group and of a scalar multiplet charged under this gauge group. The hidden sector interacts with the Standard Model particles through the Higgs portal quartic scalar interaction in such a way that the gauge bosons behave as thermal WIMPS. This can lead easily to the observed dark matter relic density in agreement with the other various constraints, and can be tested experimentally in a large fraction of the parameter space. In this model the dark matter direct detection rate and the annihilation cross section can decouple if the Higgs portal interaction is weak.

Citations (284)

Summary

  • The paper demonstrates that dark matter stability arises from an inherent custodial symmetry in a non-abelian hidden gauge model.
  • It employs the Higgs portal to connect the hidden vector sector with the Standard Model, configuring a thermal WIMP scenario.
  • Numerical results indicate viable relic density predictions and potential testability through collider and direct detection experiments.

An Analytical Overview of Hidden Vector Dark Matter

The paper "Hidden Vector Dark Matter" by Thomas Hambye presents a theoretical framework where dark matter (DM) consists of massive gauge bosons, stabilized not by ad-hoc imposed symmetries, but through an inherent custodial symmetry emerging from the gauge symmetry and particle content of the model. This work explores the viability of these gauge bosons as candidates for dark matter, integrating them seamlessly with the standard model (SM) via the Higgs portal.

Key Model Features and Assumptions

  1. Custodial Symmetry for Stability: The paper posits that the stability of dark matter, much like stable particles in the SM (e.g., electron and photon), can derive from gauge symmetries. This does not necessitate discrete or global symmetries for stability. The hidden sector in question involves:
    • A vector multiplet tied to a non-abelian gauge group.
    • A scalar multiplet charged under this gauge group.
  2. Interactions through the Higgs Portal: The hidden vector sector communicates with the SM through a quartic scalar interaction at the Higgs portal. This interaction is engineered in a way to categorize the gauge bosons as thermal Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs).
  3. Parameterization and Simplification: The model leverages simplicity by adopting constraints of the gauge sector, often leading to a narrow parameter space robust enough to be testable under current experimental setups.

Theoretical Implications and Numerical Results

  1. Relic Density and Annihilation Processes: Dark matter relic density is estimated considering multiple annihilation pathways, focusing on conditions that lead to a density compatible with observed values. The paper highlights annihilation channels that do not rely on trilinear gauge interactions and details their influence through processes involving scalars and SM particles.
  2. Phenomenological Scenarios:
    • For small Higgs portal coupling, the model predicts a separation between direct detection constraints and relic density results, offering flexibility in dark matter mass ranges.
    • With large Higgs portal coupling, the model anticipates experimental detectability at accelerators like the LHC, linking theoretical predictions with observable phenomena.
  3. Direct Detection and Constraints: The direct detection cross-sections can manifest strong deviations from current upper limits, dependent on the strength of Higgs portal coupling and mixing angles within the mass range of involved scalars.

Implications for Future Research and Experimental Tests

  1. Potential Discoveries at Collider Experiments: With mixing angles and masses within the reach of electroweak precision tests, future collider experiments like the LHC could validate portions of this model, particularly involving potential scalar particles.
  2. Direct and Indirect Detection Connections: There exists a decoupling in direct detection relevance tied to limited portal couplings, while indirect detection through phenomena like Sommerfeld enhancement could align with observational data such as those by the Pamela experiment.
  3. Dimensional Stability and Operator Influences: The paper underscores that dimension-five operators inducing instability are absent, primarily focusing on dimension-six operators, thus maintaining long dark matter lifetimes necessary for cosmological scales without low cut-off scales.

Conclusion

Hambye's model introduces a novel perspective on dark matter, amalgamating aspects of SM symmetries with hidden sector properties via non-abelian constructs. The hidden vector dark matter model is presented not as a final theory, but as a potentially viable candidate meriting further exploratory research and experimental verification, particularly through its potential implications for collider and cosmological experiments. This work provides foundational knowledge and guidelines for the ongoing pursuit to understand dark matter within the comprehensive framework of particle physics.