Hydrogen oscillation into a dark-sector state $H'$ has recently been proposed as a novel mechanism through which hydrogen can be cooled during the dark ages -- without direct couplings between the Standard Model and dark matter. In this work we demonstrate that the requisite mixing can appear naturally from a microphysical theory, and argue that the startling deviations from standard cosmology are nonetheless consistent with observations. A symmetric mirror model enforces the necessary degeneracy between $H$ and $H'$, and an additional twisted $B+L'$ symmetry dictates that $H$-$H'$ mixing is the leading connection between the sectors. We write down a UV completion where $\sim$ TeV-scale leptoquarks generate the partonic dimension-12 mixing operator, thus linking to the energy frontier. With half of all $H$ atoms oscillating into $H'$, the composition of the universe is scandalously different during part of its history. We qualitatively discuss structure formation: both the modifications to it in the Standard Model sector and the possibility of it in the mirror sector, which has recently been proposed as a resolution to the puzzle of early supermassive black holes. While the egregious loss of SM baryons mostly self-erases during reionization, to our knowledge this is the first model that suggests there should be missing baryons in the late universe, and highly motivates a continued, robust observational program of high-precision searches for cosmic baryons.
We show that in a special class of dark sector models, the hydrogen atom can serve as a portal to new physics, through its decay occurring in abundant populations in the Sun and on Earth. The large fluxes of hydrogen decay daughter states can be detected via their decay or scattering. By constructing two models for either detection channel, we show that the recently reported excess in electron recoils at XENON1T could be explained by such signals in large regions of parameter space unconstrained by proton and hydrogen decay limits.
We develop a phenomenological formalism for mixing effects between the Standard Model and hidden-sector fields, motivated by dark matter in the Universe as well as string theories. The scheme includes multiple Higgs-portal interactions in the scalar sector as well as multiple gauge-kinetic mixings in the abelian gauge sector. While some of the mixing effects can be cast in closed form, other elements can be controlled analytically only by means of perturbative expansions in the ratio of standard scales over large hidden scales. Higgs and vector-boson masses and mixings are illustrated numerica…
We consider the possibility that along the thermal history of the Universe, dark matter (DM) would have been created from Standard Model particles, either through a kinetic mixing portal to an extra U(1) gauge field, or through the Higgs portal. Depending solely on the DM particle mass, on the portal and on the DM hidden sector interaction, we show how the observed DM relic density can be obtained. There are four possible freeze-in/reannihilation/freeze-out regimes, which together result in a simple characteristic relic density phase diagram, with the shape of a "Mesa". In the case of the kine…
New Abelian U(1)' gauge bosons $V_μ$ can couple to the Standard Model through mixing of the associated field strength tensor $V_{μν}$ with the one from hypercharge, $F_{μν}^Y$. Here we consider early Universe sensitivity to this vector portal and show that the effective mixing parameter with the photon, $κ$, is being probed for vector masses in the GeV ballpark down to values $10^{-10} \lesssim κ\lesssim 10^{-14}$ where no terrestrial probes exist. The ensuing constraints are based on a detailed calculation of the vector relic abundance and an in-depth analysis of relevant nucleosynthesis proc…
Relation between the lepton and quark mixings: $U_{PMNS} \approx V_{CKM}^{\dagger} U_X$, where $U_X$ is the BM or TBM mixing matrices, implies the quark-lepton (Grand) unification and existence of hidden sector with certain flavor symmetries. The latter couples to the visible sector via the neutrino portal and is responsible for $U_X$, as well as for smallness of neutrino mass. GUT ensures appearance of $\sim V_{CKM}$ in the lepton mixing. General features of this scenario (inverse or double seesaw, screening of the Dirac structures, basis fixing symmetry) are described and two realizations ar…
We consider an extension of the Standard Model involving two new scalar particles around the TeV scale: a singlet neutral scalar $ϕ$, to be eventually identified as the Dark Matter candidate, plus a doubly charged $SU(2)_L$ singlet scalar, $S^{++}$, that can be the source for the non-vanishing neutrino masses and mixings. Assuming an unbroken $Z_2$ symmetry in the scalar sector, under which only the additional neutral scalar $ϕ$ is odd, we write the most general (renormalizable) scalar potential. The model may be regarded as a possible extension of the conventional Higgs portal Dark Matter sce…
Solar neutrinos can be efficiently upscattered to MeV scale heavy neutral leptons (HNLs) within the Earth's mantle. HNLs can then decay to electron-positron pairs leading to energy deposition inside large-volume detectors. In this paper we consider mass-portal upscattering of solar neutrinos to HNLs of mass 20 MeV $\geq m_N \geq 2 m_e$. The large volume of the Earth compensates for the long decay-length of the HNLs leading to observable rates of $N\rightarrow ν_αe^+e^-$ in large volume detectors. We find that searches for mantle-upscattered HNLs can set the novel limits on mixing with third ge…
The mixing of graviphotons and dark brane photons to the Standard Model hypercharge is analyzed in full generality, in weakly-coupled string theory. Both the direct mixing as well as effective terms that provide mixing after inclusion of SM corrections are estimated to lowest order. The results are compared with Effective Field Theory (EFT) couplings, originating in a hidden large-N theory coupled to the SM. The string theory mixing terms are typically subleading compared with the generic EFT couplings. The case where the hidden theory is a holographic theory is also analyzed, providing also s…
We discuss a flavourful $Z'$ portal model with a coupling to fourth-family singlet Dirac neutrino dark matter. In the absence of mixing, the $Z'$ is fermiophobic, having no couplings to the three chiral families, but does couple to a fourth vector-like family. Due to mixing effects, the $Z'$ gets induced couplings to second family left-handed lepton doublets and third family left-handed quark doublets. This model can simultaneously account for the measured $B$-decay ratios $R_{K}$ and $R_{K^*}$ and for the observed relic abundance of dark matter. We identify the parameter space where this expl…
We propose a minimal seesaw extension to simultaneously account for realistic neutrino mass and mixing, the baryon asymmetry of the Universe via leptogenesis and a viable dark matter relic density, in which two right-handed neutrinos are coupled to a dark Dirac fermion and complex scalar field, both charged under a global $U(1)_D$ symmetry. As a concrete example, we consider the Littlest Seesaw model which describes neutrino mass and mixing and accounts for leptogenesis, thereby fixing the neutrino Yukawa couplings and right-handed neutrino masses. By considering the freeze-in production mecha…
The Dark Axion Portal provides a model for Dark Matter (DM) in which both Dark Photons $γ^\prime$ and Axions $a$ can contribute to the present day abundance of DM. We study the parameter space of the Dark Axion Portal to pinpoint regions of the parameter space where $γ^\prime$ and $a$ can be produced with sufficient abundance to account for the cosmic DM density, while still being detectable in planned direct detection and axion haloscope experiments. In particular, we explore the production of eV-scale Dark Photons in the Dark Axion Portal, taking into account a possible kinetic mixing betwee…
We present two alternative proofs for the cancellation mechanism in the U(1) symmetric pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone-Boson Dark Matter (pNGB DM) model. They help us to have a better understanding of the mechanism from multi-angle, and inspire us to propose some interesting generalizations. In the first proof, we revisit the non-linear representation method and rephrase the argument with the interaction eigenstates. In this picture, the phase mode (DM) can only have a trilinear interaction with a derivative-squared acting on the radial mode when the DM is on-shell. Thus, the DM-quark scattering genera…
If dark matter (DM) interacts with the Standard Model (SM) via the $U(1)_D$ kinetic mixing (KM) portal at low energies, it necessitates not only the existence of portal matter (PM) particles which carry both dark and SM quantum numbers, but also a possible UV completion into which this $U(1)_D$ and the SM are both embedded. In earlier work, following a bottom-up approach, we attempted to construct a more unified framework of these SM and dark sector interactions. In this paper we will instead begin to explore, from the top-down, the possibility of the unification of these forces via the decomp…
In the Standard Model (SM), the Higgs mass around 125 GeV implies that the electroweak vacuum is metastable since the quartic Higgs coupling turns negative at high energies. I point out that a tiny mixing of the Higgs with a heavy singlet can make the electroweak vacuum completely stable. This is due to a tree level correction to the Higgs mass-coupling relation, which survives in the zero-mixing/heavy-singlet limit. Such a situation is experimentally indistinguishable from the SM, unless the Higgs self-coupling can be measured. As a result, Higgs inflation and its variants can still be viable…
We show for the first time that the loop-driven kinetic mixing between visible and dark Abelian gauge bosons can facilitate dark matter production in the early Universe by creating a 'dynamic' portal, which depends on the energy of the process. The required smallness of the strength of the portal interaction, suited for freeze-in, is justified by a suppression arising from the mass of a heavy vector-like fermion. The strong temperature sensitivity associated with the interaction is responsible for most of the dark matter production during the early stages of reheating.
We consider the collider signals arising from kinetic mixing between the hypercharge gauge boson of the Standard Model and its twin counterpart in the Mirror Twin Higgs model, in the framework in which the twin photon is massive. Through the mixing, the Standard Model fermions acquire charges under the mirror photon and the mirror Z boson. We determine the current experimental bounds on this scenario, and show that the mixing can be large enough to discover both the twin photon and the twin Z at the LHC, or at a future 100 TeV hadron collider, with dilepton resonances being a particularly cons…
The nature of dark matter (DM) and how it might interact with the particles of the Standard Model (SM) is an ever-growing mystery. It is possible that the existence of new `dark sector' forces, yet undiscovered, are the key to solving this fundamental problem. In this paper, we construct a model in which a dark photon mediates interactions with the SM via kinetic mixing. Unlike traditional models, in which the dark photon, which couples to a dark charge, $Q_D$, mixes with the hypercharge boson, our model effectively mixes the dark photon directly with the photon after electroweak symmetry is b…
We show that the Higgs portal interactions involving extra dark Higgs field can save generically the original Higgs inflation of the standard model (SM) from the problem of a deep non-SM vacuum in the SM Higgs potential. Specifically, we show that such interactions disconnect the top quark pole mass from inflationary observables and allow multi-dimensional parameter space to save the Higgs inflation, thanks to the additional parameters (the dark Higgs boson mass $m_ϕ$, the mixing angle $α$ between the SM Higgs $H$ and dark Higgs $Φ$, and the mixed quartic coupling) affecting RG-running of the …
We investigate the implications of the dark axion portal interaction, the axion-photon-dark photon vertex, for the future experiments SHiP and FASER. We also study the phenomenology of the combined vector portal (kinetic mixing of the photon and dark photon) and dark axion portal. The muon $g-2$ discrepancy is unfortunately not solved even with the two portals, but the low-energy beam dump experiments with monophoton detection capability can open new opportunities in light dark sector searches using the combined portals.
Data from Planck measurements of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) place important constraints on models with light dark matter (DM) and light mediators especially when both lie in the mass range below $\sim 1 $ GeV. In models involving kinetic mixing where the dark photon acts as the mediator, these constraints are easily satisfied and the appropriate DM relic density achievable if the DM is, e.g., a complex scalar, where $p$-wave annihilation occurs, or is the lighter component of a split pseudo-Dirac state where co-annihilation dominates. In both of these cases, although higher order in…
We study the phenomenological credibility of a vectorial dark matter, coupled to a $Z'$ portal through Chern-Simons interaction. We scrutinize two possibilities of connecting a $Z'$ with the Standard Model: (1) through kinetic mixing and (2) from a second Chern-Simons interaction. Both scenarios are characterized by suppressed nuclear recoil scatterings, rendering direct detection searches not promising. Indirect detection experiments, on the other hand, furnish complementary limits for TeV scale masses, specially with the CTA. Searches for mono-jet and dileptons signals at the LHC are importa…
A strong absorption profile was reported by the EDGES Collaboration, which indicates the hydrogen gas being colder than expected. It could be signatures of non-gravitational interactions between normal matter and dark matter (DM), and a potential explanation is that a small fraction of millicharged DM scatters with normal matter, with the DM mass in tens of MeV. To obtain the small fraction of millicharged DM and meanwhile being tolerant with by the constraints, the dark photon portal scalar and vector millicharged DM are explored in this paper. We consider that the mass of dark photon is slig…
We investigate the vacuum stability and perturbativity of a pseudoscalar portal dark matter model with a Dirac dark matter (DM) candidate, through the renormalization group equation analysis at one-loop order. The model has a particular feature which can evade the direct detection upper bounds measured by XENON100 and even that from planned experiment XENON1T. We first find the viable regions in the parameter space which will give rise to correct DM relic density and comply with the constraints from Higgs physics. We show that for a given mass of the pseudoscalar, the mixing angle plays no sig…
Dark matter self-interactions can affect the small scale structure of the Universe, reducing the central densities of dwarfs and low surface brightness galaxies in accord with observations. From a particle physics point of view, this points toward the existence of a 1-100 MeV particle in the dark sector that mediates self-interactions. Since mediator particles will generically couple to the Standard Model, direct detection experiments provide sensitive probes of self-interacting dark matter. We consider three minimal mechanisms for coupling the dark and visible sectors: photon kinetic mixing, …
Ultraviolet physics typically induces a kinetic mixing between gauge singlets which is marginal and hence non-decoupling in the infrared. In singlet extensions of the minimal supersymmetric standard model, e.g. the next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model, this furnishes a well motivated and distinctive portal connecting the visible sector to any hidden sector which contains a singlet chiral superfield. In the presence of singlet kinetic mixing, the hidden sector automatically acquires a light mass scale in the range 0.1 - 100 GeV induced by electroweak symmetry breaking. In theories with…
We consider models with fermionic dark matter that transforms under a non-Abelian dark gauge group. Exotic, vector-like leptons that also transform under the dark gauge group can mix with standard model leptons after spontaneous symmetry breaking and serve as a portal between the dark and visible sectors. We show in an explicit, renormalizable model based on a dark SU(2) gauge group how this can lead to adequate dark matter annihilation to a standard model lepton flavor so that the correct relic density is obtained. We identify a discrete symmetry that allows mass mixing between the vector-lik…
Composite asymmetric dark matter scenarios naturally explain why the dark matter mass density is comparable with the visible matter mass density. Such scenarios generically require some entropy transfer mechanism below the composite scale; otherwise, their late-time cosmology is incompatible with observations. A tiny kinetic mixing between a dark photon and the visible photon is a promising example of the low-energy portal. In this paper, we demonstrate that grand unifications in the dark and the visible sectors explain the origin of the tiny kinetic mixing. We particularly consider an ultravi…
We study the recent \XeT excess in context of solar scalar, specifically in the framework of Higgs-portal and the relaxion model. We show that $m_ϕ= 1.9\,\keV$ and $g_{ϕe}=2.4\times 10^{-14}$ can explain the observed excess in science run 1 (SR1) analysis in the 1-7 keV range. When translated into the scalar-Higgs mixing angle, the corresponding mixing angle $\sinθ= 10^{-8}$ is intriguingly close to the maximum value of mixing angle for the technical naturalness of the scalar mass. Unlike the solar axion model, the excess favors a massive scalar field because of its softer spectrum. In the min…
Dark photons (DP) are interesting as potential mediators between the dark matter (DM) sector and the fields of the Standard Model (SM). The interaction of the DP, described by a broken $U(1)_D$ gauge symmetry, with the SM is usually generated at the one-loop level via kinetic mixing through the existence of portal matter (PM), here assumed to be fermionic, which carries both a dark charge as well as a SM $U(1)_Y$ hypercharge. For theoretical consistency, as well as for many phenomenological reasons, this PM must be vector-like with respect to the SM and dark gauge groups and, in particular, is…
We examine the sensitivity of electric dipole moments (EDMs) to new $CP$-violating physics in a hidden (or dark) sector, neutral under the Standard Model (SM) gauge groups, and coupled via renormalizable portals. In the absence of weak sector interactions, we show that the electron EDM can be induced purely through the gauge kinetic mixing portal, but requires five loops, and four powers of the kinetic mixing parameter $ε$. Allowing weak interactions, and incorporating the Higgs and neutrino portals, we show that the leading contributions to $d_e$ arise at two-loop order, with the main source …
Non-Abelian family symmetries offer a very promising explanation for the flavour structure in the Standard Model and its extensions. We explore the possibility that dark matter consists in fermions that transform under a family symmetry, such that the visible and dark sector are linked by the familons - Standard Model gauge singlet scalars, responsible for spontaneously breaking the family symmetry. We study three representative models with non-Abelian family symmetries that have been shown capable to explain the masses and mixing of the Standard Model fermions. One of our central results is t…
In this paper, we present a model which attempts to unify a new dark sector force with a local $SU(3)$ flavor symmetry. Dark Matter (DM) and its potential interactions with the Standard Model (SM) continue to present a rich framework for model building. In the case of thermal DM of a mass between a few MeV and a few GeV, a compelling and much-explored framework is that of a dark photon/vector portal, which posits a new $U(1)$ "dark photon" which only couples to the SM via small kinetic mixing (KM) with the SM hypercharge. This mixing can be mediated at the one-loop level by portal matter (PM) …
The anomalous 21 cm absorption feature reported by EDGES has galvanized the study of scenarios in which dark matter (DM) siphons off thermal energy from the Standard Model (SM) gas. In a departure from the much-discussed models that achieve cooling by DM scattering directly with SM particles, we show that the same end can be achieved through neutral atomic hydrogen $H$ mixing with a degenerate dark sector state $H'$. An analysis of in-medium $H$-$H'$ oscillations reveals viable parameter space for generic types of $H'$-DM interactions to provide the requisite cooling. This strategy stands in s…
We study a model of dark matter in which the hidden sector interacts with standard model particles via a hidden photonic portal. We investigate the effects of this new interaction on the hydrogen atom, including the Stark, Zeeman and hyperfine effects. Using the accuracy of the measurement of energy, we obtain an upper bound for the coupling constant of the model. We also calculate the contribution from the hidden photonic portal to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, which provides an important probe of physics beyond the standard model.
We investigate an inflationary model involving a gauge singlet scalar and fermionic dark matter. The mixing between the singlet scalar and the Higgs boson provides a portal to dark matter. The inflaton could either be the Higgs boson or the singlet scalar, and slow roll inflation is realized via its non-minimal coupling to gravity. In this setup, the effective scalar potential is stabilized by the mixing between two scalars and coupling with dark matter. We study constraints from collider searches, relic density and direct detection, and find that dark matter mass should be around half the mas…
We study the discovery prospects of a heavy neutral scalar arising from a $U(1)_{B-L}$ extension of the Standard Model (SM) during the Large Hadron Collider's high luminosity runs (HL-LHC). This heavy neutral scalar mixes with the SM Higgs boson through a Higgs portal and interacts with the SM particles with an interaction strength proportional to the sine of the mixing angle. The mixing between the two Higgs bosons is constrained by direct and indirect measurements. We choose an experimentally viable mixing angle and explore in detail the $ZZ$ and $WW$ decay modes of the heavy Higgs boson. Fo…
We study effects from new colored states and the Higgs portal on gluon fusion production. We isolate possible loop contributions from new colored scalars, fermions, and vectors, incorporating effects from Higgs portal-induced scalar mixing, leading to dramatic effects on gluon fusion and branching fractions. Higgs identification must generally allow for these effects, and using our results, possible tensions from fits to the Standard Model expectation can be relieved by inclusion of New Physics effects.
According to the Standard Model (SM), we expect to find a proton for each decaying neutron. However, the experiments counting the number of decayed neutrons and produced protons have a disagreement. This discrepancy suggests that neutrons might have an exotic decay to a Dark Sector (DS). In this paper, we explore a scenario where neutrons decay to a dark Dirac fermion $χ$ and a non-abelian dark gauge boson $W'$. We discuss the cosmological implications of this scenario assuming DS particles are produced via freeze-in. In our proposed scenario, DS has three portals with the SM sector: (1) the f…
We study baryogenesis via a gaugino portal, the supersymmetric counterpart to the widely studied kinetic mixing portal, to a hidden sector. CP and baryon number violating decays of a hidden sector gaugino into the visible sector can produce the observed baryon asymmetry of the Universe. The tiny portal coupling is crucial in producing late out-of-equilibrium decays, after washout processes that can erase the asymmetry have gone out of equilibrium. We study this mechanism within various scenarios, including freeze-in or freeze-out of the hidden gaugino, as well as extended frameworks where the …
We construct explicit string theory models realizing the recently proposed "Stückelberg Portal" scenario, a framework for building Z' mediation models without the need to introduce unwanted exotic matter charged under the Standard Model. This scenario can be viewed purely field-theoretically, although it is particularly well motivated from string theory. By analyzing carefully the Stückelberg couplings between the Abelian gauge bosons and the RR axions, we construct the first global intersecting brane models which extend the Standard Model with a genuine hidden sector, to which it is nonethele…
We revisit a model in which neutrino masses and mixing are described by a two right-handed (RH) neutrino seesaw scenario, implying a strictly hierarchical light neutrino spectrum. A third decoupled RH neutrino, $N_{\rm DM}$ with mass $M_{\rm DM}$, plays the role of cold dark matter (DM) and is produced by the mixing with a source RH neutrino, $N_{\rm S}$ with mass $M_{\rm S}$, induced by Higgs portal interactions. The same interactions are also responsible for $N_{\rm DM}$ decays. We discuss in detail the constraints coming from DM abundance and stability conditions, showing that in the hierar…
The understanding of the origin of dark matter has great importance for cosmology and particle physics. Several interesting extensions of the standard model dealing with solution of this problem motivate the concept of hidden sectors consisting of SU(3)xSU(2)_LxU(1)_Y singlet fields. Among these models, the mirror matter model is certainly one of the most interesting. The model explains the origin of parity violation in weak interactions, it could also explain the baryon asymmetry of the Universe and provide a natural ground for the explanation of dark matter. The mirror matter could have a po…
We investigate the bounds on axionlike states from flavor-changing neutral current b->s decays, assuming the axion couples to the standard model through mixing with the Higgs sector. Such GeV-scale axions have received renewed attention in connection with observed cosmic ray excesses. We find that existing B->K l+ l- data impose stringent bounds on the axion decay constant in the multi-TeV range, relevant for constraining the "axion portal" model of dark matter. Such bounds also constrain light Higgs scenarios in the next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model. These bounds can be improved b…
We propose a minimal model to simultaneously account for a realistic neutrino spectrum through a type-I seesaw mechanism and a viable dark matter relic density. The model is an extension of the Littlest Seesaw model in which the two right-handed neutrinos of the model are coupled to a $Z_2$-odd dark sector via right-handed neutrino portal couplings. In this model, a highly constrained and direct link between dark matter and neutrino physics is achieved by considering the freeze-in production mechanism of dark matter. We show that the neutrino Yukawa couplings which describe neutrino mass and m…
We perform a comprehensive search for Standard Model extensions inspired by asymptotic safety. Our models feature a singlet matrix scalar field, three generations of vector-like leptons, and direct links to the Higgs and flavor sectors via new Yukawa and portal couplings. A novel feature is that the enlarged scalar sector may spontaneously break lepton flavor universality. We provide a complete two-loop renormalization group analysis of the running gauge, Yukawa, and quartic couplings to find ultraviolet fixed points and the BSM critical surface of parameters, $i.e.$ the set of boundary condit…
The nature of dark matter (DM) and how it might interact with the particles of the Standard Model (SM) is an ever-growing mystery. It is possible that the existence of new `dark sector' forces, yet undiscovered, are the key to solving this fundamental problem, and one might hope that in the future such forces might even be `unified' with the ones we already know in some UV-complete framework. In this paper, following a bottom-up approach, we attempt to take the first steps in the construction of such a framework. The much-discussed possibility of the kinetic mixing (KM) of the `dark photon' wi…
