Minimal Majoron Dark Matter

Abstract: We study Majoron dark matter (DM) in its minimal realization, based on the Type-I seesaw framework extended by a SM-singlet complex scalar. Remaining agnostic about the origin and value of the Majoron mass, we evaluate the DM abundance from both the freeze-in and misalignment mechanisms, and identify the viable parameter space consistent with observational constraints. Without fine-tuning of the initial misalignment angle, we find that the Majoron mass is bounded by $m_J \lesssim \mathcal{O}(10)~\mathrm{MeV}$. We also discuss compatibility with thermal leptogenesis. Successful leptogenesis with two right-handed neutrinos favors misalignment-dominated production with the Majoron mass $m_J \lesssim \mathcal{O}(100)~\mathrm{eV}$, while freeze-in dominated production is compatible with leptogenesis only with a mild fine-tuning of the initial misalignment angle, $θ_i \lesssim \mathcal{O}(0.01)$.