No Arabic abstract
Les Houches 2021 lectures on dark matter effective field theory (short course). The aim of these two lectures is to calculate the DM-nucleus cross section for a simple example, and then generalize to the treatment of general effective interactions of spin-1/2 DM. Relativistic local operators, the heavy-DM effective theory, the chiral effective Lagrangian, and nuclear effective operators are briefly discussed.
We revisit thermal Majorana dark matter from the viewpoint of minimal effective field theory. In this framework, analytic results for dark matter annihilation into standard model particles are derived. The dark matter parameter space subject to the latest LUX, PandaX-II and Xenon-1T limits is presented in a model-independent way. Applications to singlet-doublet and MSSM are presented.
We perform a model independent study of freeze-in of massive particle dark matter (DM) by adopting an effective field theory framework. Considering the dark matter to be a gauge singlet Majorana fermion, odd under a stabilising symmetry $Z_2$ under which all standard model (SM) fields are even, we write down all possible DM-SM operators upto and including mass dimension eight. For simplicity of the numerical analysis we restrict ourselves only to the scalar operators in SM as well as in the dark sector. We calculate the DM abundance for each such dimension of operator considering both UV and IR freeze-in contributions which can arise before and after the electroweak symmetry breaking respectively. After constraining the cut-off scale and reheat temperature of the universe from the requirement of correct DM relic abundance, we also study the possibility of connecting the origin of neutrino mass to the same cut-off scale by virtue of lepton number violating Weinberg operators. We thus compare the bounds on such cut-off scale and corresponding reheat temperature required for UV freeze-in from the origin of light neutrino mass as well as from the requirement of correct DM relic abundance. We also briefly comment upon the possibilities of realising such DM-SM effective operators in a UV complete model.
We present an effective field theory describing the relevant interactions of the Standard Model with an electrically neutral particle that can account for the dark matter in the Universe. The possible mediators of these interactions are assumed to be heavy. The dark matter candidates that we consider have spin 0, 1/2 or 1, belong to an electroweak multiplet with arbitrary isospin and hypercharge and their stability at cosmological scales is guaranteed by imposing a $mathbb{Z}_2$ symmetry. We present the most general framework for describing the interaction of the dark matter with standard particles, and construct a general non-redundant basis of the gauge-invariant operators up to dimension six. The basis includes multiplets with non-vanishing hypercharge, which can also be viable DM candidates. We give two examples illustrating the phenomenological use of such a general effective framework. First, we consider the case of a scalar singlet, provide convenient semi-analytical expressions for the relevant dark matter observables, use present experimental data to set constraints on the Wilson coefficients of the operators, and show how the interplay of different operators can open new allowed windows in the parameter space of the model. Then we study the case of a lepton isodoublet, which involves co-annihilation processes, and we discuss the impact of the operators on the particle mass splitting and direct detection cross sections. These examples highlight the importance of the contribution of the various non-renormalizable operators, which can even dominate over the gauge interactions in certain cases.
We study the loop-induced circularly polarized gamma rays from dark matter annihilation using the effective dark matter theory approach. Both neutral scalar and fermionic dark matter annihilating into monochromatic diphoton and $Z$-photon final states are considered. To generate the circular polarization asymmetry, $P$ and $CP$ symmetries must be violated in the couplings between dark matter and Standard Model fermions inside the loop with non-vanishing Cutkosky cut. The asymmetry can be sizable especially for $Z$-photon final state for which asymmetry of nearly $90%$ can be reached. We discuss the prospect for detecting the circular polarization asymmetry of the gamma-ray flux from dark matter annihilation in the Galactic Center in future gamma-ray polarimetry experiments.
A model of dark matter (DM) that communicates with the Standard Model (SM) exclusively through suppressed dimension five operator is discussed. The SM is augmented with a symmetry $U(1)_X otimes Z_2$, where $U(1)_X$ is gauged and broken spontaneously by a very heavy decoupled scalar. The massive $U(1)_X$ vector boson ($X^mu$) is stabilized being odd under unbroken $Z_2$ and therefore may contribute as the DM component of the universe. Dark sector field strength tensor $X^{mu u}$ couples to the SM hypercharge tensor $B^{mu u}$ via the presence of a heavier $Z_2$ odd real scalar $Phi$, i.e. $1/Lambda ; X^{mu u}B_{mu u}Phi$, with $Lambda$ being a scale of new physics. The freeze-in production of the vector boson dark matter feebly coupled to the SM is advocated in this analysis. Limitations of the so-called UV freeze-in mechanism that emerge when the maximum reheat temperature $T_text{RH}$ drops down close to the scale of DM mass are discussed. The parameter space of the model consistent with the observed DM abundance is determined. The model easily and naturally avoids both direct and indirect DM searches. Possibility for detection at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is also considered. A Stueckelberg formulation of the model is derived.