Dark Matter through the Higgs portal (1903.03616v1)

Abstract: We review scenarios in which the particles that account for the Dark Matter (DM) in the Universe interact only through their couplings with the Higgs sector of the theory, the so-called Higgs-portal models. In a first step, we use a general and model-independent approach in which the DM particles are singlets with spin $0,\frac12$ or $1$, and assume a minimal Higgs sector with the presence of only the Standard Model (SM) Higgs particle observed at the LHC. In a second step, we discuss non-minimal scenarios in which the spin-$\frac12$ DM particle is accompanied by additional lepton partners and consider several possibilities like sequential, singlet-doublet and vector-like leptons. In a third step, we examine the case in which it is the Higgs sector of the theory which is enlarged either by a singlet scalar or pseudoscalar field, an additional two Higgs doublet field or by both; in this case, the matter content is also extended in several ways. Finally, we investigate the case of supersymmetric extensions of the SM with neutralino DM, focusing on the possibility that the latter couples mainly to the neutral Higgs particles of the model which then serve as the main portals for DM phenomenology. In all these scenarios, we summarize and update the present constraints and future prospects from the collider physics perspective, namely from the determination of the SM Higgs properties at the LHC and the search for its invisible decays into DM, and the search for heavier Higgs bosons and the DM companion particles at high-energy colliders. We then compare these results with the constraints and prospects obtained from the cosmological relic abundance as well as from direct and indirect DM searches in astroparticle physics experiments. The complementarity of collider and astroparticle DM searches is investigated in all the considered models.

Dark Matter through the Higgs Portal: A Comprehensive Analysis

The research paper titled "Dark Matter through the Higgs Portal" presents an elaborate assessment of scenarios wherein Dark Matter (DM) particles interact predominantly via their couplings with the Higgs sector. Given the constraints and prospects from collider physics, cosmology, and astroparticle experiments, this paper thoroughly investigates various model approaches to DM, centered around the Higgs-portal mechanism.

Overview of Higgs-Portal Models

The paper begins with a model-independent assessment of scenarios where DM candidates are singlets with spin-0, 1/2, or 1, interacting via a minimal Higgs sector comprising only the Standard Model (SM) Higgs boson. This investigation extends to include non-minimal sectors, such as additional lepton partners in spin-1/2 DM models and several configurations like sequential, singlet-doublet, and vector-like leptons.

Moreover, the paper explores scenarios where the Higgs sector itself is expanded, incorporating a scalar or pseudoscalar singlet field, an additional two Higgs doublet field, or both. Detailed discussions are presented on supersymmetric extensions, primarily focusing on the role of neutralinos in supersymmetry as well as their coupling with the Higgs particles.

Methodological Approaches and Constraints

The paper systematically addresses the constraints and future prospects for Higgs-portal models by examining:

• Collider Constraints: The SM-Higgs properties at the LHC, invisible decays to DM, and the production of additional Higgs bosons and DM partner particles.
• Astroparticle Constraints: Cosmological relic abundance, alongside direct and indirect DM searches, offering insights into the complementary nature of collider and astroparticle experiments.

The constraints imposed by collider searches are cross-referenced with astroparticle physics prospects, highlighting potential areas where detection and measurement could provide conclusive results on DM properties.

Implications and Future Outlook

The implications of this research extend both theoretically and practically:

• Theoretical Implications: By closely analyzing the interaction between the Higgs sector and potential DM particles, the paper guides future theories in addressing the naturalness problem in the SM and exploring New Physics beyond the SM.
• Practical Implications: The paper provides detailed expectations for future experimental setups, including the LHC high-luminosity options and upcoming collider projects at higher energies. These suggestions underscore necessary expansions in detection capabilities for future explorations.

Conclusion

The paper "Dark Matter through the Higgs Portal" serves as a crucial nexus of theoretical models and experimental physics, delineating scenarios that bring the enigmatic nature of DM within a more graspable framework. By evaluating constraints from contemporary and future colliders, alongside astrophysical explorations, it lays robust groundwork for future research and discovery in the field of particle physics, particularly in the quest for understanding the fabric and interactions of Dark Matter within the universe.