Local $Z_2$ scalar dark matter model confronting galactic ${mathrm GeV}$-scale $gamma$-ray

We present a scalar dark matter (DM) model where DM ($X_I$) is stabilized by a local $Z_2$ symmetry originating from a spontaneously broken local dark $U(1)_X$. Compared with the usual scalar DM with a global $Z_2$ symmetry, the local $Z_2$ model possesses three new extra fields, dark photon $Z^{}$, dark Higgs $phi$ and the excited partner of scalar DM ($X_R$), with the kinetic mixing and Higgs portal interactions dictated by local dark gauge invariance. The resulting model can accommodate thermal relic density of scalar DM without conflict with the invisible Higgs branching ratio and the bounds from DM direct detections, thanks to the newly opened channels, $X_I X_I rightarrow Z^{} Z^{}, phiphi$. In particular, due to the new particles, the ${rm GeV}$ scale $gamma$-ray excess from the Galactic Center (GC) can be originated from the decay of dark Higgs boson which is produced in DM annihilations.

Invisible Higgs Decay Width vs. Dark Matter Direct Detection Cross Section in Higgs Portal Dark Matter Models

The correlation between the invisible Higgs branching ratio ($B_h^{rm inv} $) vs. dark matter (DM) direct detection ($sigma_p^{rm SI}$) in Higgs portal DM models is usually presented in the effective field theory (EFT) framework. This is fine for singlet scalar DM, but not in the singlet fermion DM (SFDM) or vector DM (VDM) models. In this paper, we derive the explicit expressions for this correlation within UV completions of SFDM and VDM models with Higgs portals, and discuss the limitation of the EFT approach. We show that there are at least two additional hidden parameter in $sigma_p^{rm SI}$ in the UV completions: the singlet-like scalar mass $m_2$ and its mixing angle $alpha$ with the SM Higgs boson ($h$). In particular, if the singlet-like scalar is lighter than the SM Higgs boson ($m_2 < m_h cos alpha / sqrt{1 + cos^2 alpha}$), the collider bound becomes weaker than the one based on EFT.