Compatibility of a dark matter discovery at XENONnT or LZ with the WIMP thermal production mechanism

2019

J. High Energ. Phys.

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We investigate the non-relativistic reduction of simplified models for spin 1 dark matter (DM) with the aim of identifying features in the phenomenology of DM-quark interactions which are specific to vector DM. In the case of DM-quark interactions mediated by a spin 1 particle, we find two DM-nucleon interaction operators arising from the nonrelativistic reduction of simplified models for spin 1 DM that are specific to spin 1 DM, and which were not considered in previous studies. They are quadratic in the momentum transfer, linear in a symmetric combination of polarisation vectors for the DM particle, and arise from simplified models which do not generate momentum transfer independent operators as leading interactions in the non-relativistic expansion of DM-nucleon scattering amplitudes. Within these simplified models, the new operators cannot be neglected when computing DM signals at direct detection experiments. For example, we find that nuclear recoil energy spectra computed by including or neglecting the new operators can differ by up to one order of magnitude for nuclear recoil energies larger than about 20 keV and DM masses below 50 GeV. Furthermore, the shape of the expected nuclear recoil spectra depends significantly on whether the new operators are taken into account or not. Finally, neglecting the contribution to DM direct detection signals from the new operators leads to inaccurate conclusions when assessing the compatibility of a future direct detection signal with CMB constraints on the DM relic density, especially when the number of signal events is small, e.g. O(1).

Section: Expected Dm Relic Densitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Non-relativistic effective interactions of spin 1 Dark Matter

Fridell

2019

J. High Energ. Phys.

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“…The exact formula for Γ qq for all mediators discussed here can be found in ref. [35]. In the case of a vector mediator, the limit assuming decay into quarks only is stronger than the limit for Γ qq /m med = 0.05 for the entire range of mediator masses shown.…”

Section: Exclusion Limitsmentioning

confidence: 82%

Constraints on new scalar and vector mediators from LHC dijet searches

Baum

J. Phys. G: Nucl. Part. Phys.

2020

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We present a reanalysis of the latest results from CMS dijet searches for an integrated luminosity of 36 fb −1 together with preliminary results for 78 fb −1 in the framework of simplified models for dark matter interacting with quarks through the exchange of a scalar, pseudoscalar, vector or pseudovector mediator particle. Within the same framework, we also project the sensitivity of dijet searches in future LHC runs and study how well the parameters of a simplified model could be reconstructed in case of a future discovery at the high luminosity (HL) LHC. Finally, we explore the possibility of discriminating different mediator scenarios by extending the sensitivity of dijet searches for simplified models through the use of angular information. It is the first time that these studies are performed systematically for the case of spin 0 mediators. Among other results we find: 1) no evidence for a dijet signal in the simplified model framework; 2) improvements due to an increased luminosity at the HL-LHC are significant, but mostly for heavy mediators, where dijet searches are limited by statistical, rather than systematical uncertainties; 3) Information on the angular separation of dijets could be used at the HL-LHC to discriminate different mediator scenarios.

“…The benchmark value for the effective mediator mass giving rise to 150 events in XENONnT is M eff ∼ 200 GeV, thus, one would expect similar regions as in the (V ⊗ A) 1/2 scenario. However, the partial width for a spin 1 mediator decaying via b 7 is enhanced by a factor ∼ (m med /m DM ) 2 with respect to a decay via λ 3 in the (V ⊗ A) 1/2 model [30]. Thus, the branching ratio into quarks is suppressed and we do not expect a significant chance to discover such a scenario at the HL-LHC.…”

Section: Impact Of a Xenonnt Signal On Lhc Dijet 5σ Discovery Contoursmentioning

confidence: 83%

“…The detector can resolve dark matter masses up to about 100 GeV reasonably well, see, e.g., Refs. [30,51]. For larger masses the direct detection signal becomes largely independent of m DM .…”

Section: Impact Of a Xenonnt Signal On Lhc Dijet 5σ Discovery Contoursmentioning

confidence: 95%

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Impact of a XENONnT signal on LHC dijet searches

Baum

2019

J. High Energ. Phys.

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It is well-known that dark matter (DM) direct detection experiments and the LHC are complementary, since they probe physical processes occurring at different energy scales. And yet, there are aspects of this complementarity which are still not fully understood, or exploited. For example, what is the impact that the discovery of DM at XENONnT would have on present and future searches for DM in LHC final states involving a pair of hadronic jets? In this work we investigate the impact of a XENONnT signal on the interpretation of current dijet searches at the LHC, and on the prospects for dijet signal discovery at the High-Luminosity (HL) LHC in the framework of simplified models. Specifically, we focus on a general class of simplified models where DM can have spin 0, 1/2 or 1, and interacts with quarks through the exchange of a scalar, pseudo-scalar, vector, or pseudo-vector mediator. We find that exclusion limits on the mediator's mass and its coupling to quarks from dijet searches at the LHC are significantly affected by a signal at XENONnT, and that O(100) signal events at XENONnT would drastically narrow the region in the parameter space of simplified models where a dijet signal can be discovered at 5σ C.L. at the HL-LHC.