Feebly interacting thermal relics are promising dark matter candidates. Among them, scenarios of inelastic Dark Matter evade direct detection by suppressed elastic scattering off atomic nuclei. We introduce inelastic Dirac Dark Matter, a new model with two Dirac fermions in the MeV-GeV mass range. At feeble couplings, dark matter can depart from chemical as well as kinetic equilibrium with the Standard Model before freeze-out. In this case, the freeze-out is driven by conversion processes like coscattering, rather than coannihilation. We show that inelastic Dirac relics are consistent with cosmological observations, in particular with nucleosynthesis and the cosmic microwave background. Searches for dark sectors at colliders and fixed-target experiments, in turn, are very sensitive probes. Compared to the strongly constrained pseudo-Dirac scenario, inelastic Dirac Dark Matter offers a new search target for existing and upcoming experiments like Belle II, ICARUS, LDMX and SeaQuest.
We consider inelastic dark matter scenarios with dark photon mediator and a dark Higgs boson. The dark Higgs boson spontaneously breaks the gauge symmetry associated with the dark photon, and gives the mass to the dark photon and the mass difference to dark particles. Such a dark Higgs boson can decay into the dark particles and hence can be another source of the dark particles at collider experiments. We analyze the sensitivity to decays of the excited state into the dark matter and charged particles at the FASER 2 experiment in fermion and scalar inelastic dark matter scenarios. We consider …
Recent experimental results indicate that the dark matter sector may have a non-minimal structure with a spectrum of states and interactions. Inelastic scattering has received particular attention in light of DAMA's annual modulation signal. Composite inelastic dark matter (CiDM) provides a dynamical origin for the mass splittings in inelastic dark matter models. We show that higher dimensional operators in the CiDM Lagrangian lead to an admixture of inelastic and elastic scattering in the presence of parity violation. This scenario is consistent with direct detection experiments, even when pa…
We consider a dark sector containing a pair of almost degenerate states coupled to the Standard Model through a dark photon mediator. This set-up constitutes a simple realization of the inelastic dark matter scenario. The heaviest dark state is long-lived, in the limit of a small kinetic mixing among the dark photon and the Standard Model hypercharge gauge boson, and/or of a small mass splitting among the dark states. We study the prospects for detection of this scenario at proposed LHC experiments dedicated to search for long-lived particles, namely FASER, MATHUSLA, CODEX-b, AL3X, MAPP, ANUBI…
We explore the reach of low-background experiments made of small quantities of heavy nuclear isotopes in probing the parameter space of inelastic dark matter that is kinematically inaccessible to classic direct detection experiments. Through inelastic scattering with target nuclei, dark matter can yield a signal either via nuclear recoil or nuclear excitation. We present new results based on this approach, using data from low-energy gamma quanta searches in low-background experiments with Hf and Os metal samples, and measurements with CaWO$_4$ and PbWO$_4$ crystals as scintillating bolometers.…
Peaking consistently in June for nearly eleven years, the annual modulation signal reported by DAMA/NaI and DAMA/LIBRA offers strong evidence for the identity of dark matter. DAMA's signal strongly suggest that dark matter inelastically scatters into an excited state split by O(100 keV). We propose that DAMA is observing hyperfine transitions of a composite dark matter particle. As an example, we consider a meson of a QCD-like sector, built out of constituent fermions whose spin-spin interactions break the degeneracy of the ground state. An axially coupled U(1) gauge boson that mixes kinetical…
Inelastic dark matter is an interesting scenario for light thermal dark matter which is fully consistent with all cosmological probes as well as direct and indirect dark matter detection. The required mass splitting between dark matter $χ_1$ and its heavier twin $χ_2$ is naturally induced by a dark Higgs field which also provides a simple mechanism to give mass to the dark photon $A'$ present in the setup. The corresponding dark Higgs boson $h'$ is naturally the lightest dark sector state and therefore decays into Standard Model particles via Higgs mixing. In this work we study signatures with…
Neutron stars can provide new insight into dark matter properties, as these dense objects capture dark matter particles very efficiently. It has recently been shown that the energy transfer in the dark matter capture process can lead to appreciable heating of neutron stars, which may be observable with forthcoming infra-red telescopes. We examine this heating in the context of inelastic dark matter, for which signals in conventional nuclear-recoil based direct detection experiments are highly suppressed when the momentum transfer is small compared to the mass splitting between dark matter stat…
We consider an inelastic dark matter model, where a fermion is charged under a broken U(1) gauge symmetry, and introduce a tiny Majorana mass term to split the fermion into two states with the light one being a dark matter candidate. If the gauge boson is light, it can mediate both elastic and inelastic dark matter self-interactions in dark halos, leading to observational consequences. Using a numerical technique based on partial wave analysis, we accurately calculate the elastic and inelastic self-scattering cross sections. We assume a thermal freeze-out scenario and fix the gauge coupling co…
We study luminous dark matter signals in models with inelastic scattering. Dark matter $χ_1$ that scatters inelastically off elements in the Earth is kicked into an excited state $χ_2$ that can subsequently decay into a monoenergetic photon inside a detector. The photon signal exhibits large sidereal-daily modulation due to the daily rotation of the Earth and anisotropies in the problem: the dark matter wind comes from the direction of Cygnus due to the Sun's motion relative to the galaxy, and the rock overburden is anisotropic, as is the dark matter scattering angle. This allows outstanding s…
Dark matter in the form of weakly interacting massive particles is predicted to become gravitationally captured and accumulate in stars. While the subsequent annihilations of such particles lead to the injection of energy into stellar cores, elastically scattering dark matter particles do not generally yield enough energy to observably impact stellar phenomenology. Dark matter particles which scatter inelastically with nuclei (such that they reconcile the annual modulation reported by DAMA with the null results of CDMS and other experiments), however, can be captured by and annihilate in compa…
Although we have yet to determine whether the DAMA data represents a true discovery of new physics, among such interpretations inelastic dark matter (IDM) can match the energy spectrum of DAMA very well while not contradicting the results of other direct detection searches. In this paper we investigate the general properties that a viable IDM candidate must have and search for simple models that realize these properties in natural ways. We begin by determining the regions of IDM parameter space that are allowed by direct detection searches including DAMA, paying special attention to larger IDM…
The low-threshold experiment SENSEI, which uses the ultralow-noise silicon Skipper-CCD to explore light dark matter from the halo, has achieved the most rigorous limitations on light DM-electron scattering cross section. In this work, we investigate the inelastic DM-electron scattering process with the SENSEI data and derive the constraints on the inelastic dark matter model with a $U(1)$ gauge boson as the mediator. Comparing with elastic scattering process, we find that the down-scattering process with the mass splitting $δ\equiv m_{χ_2}-m_{χ_1}<0$ is more strongly constrained while the up-s…
We compute the capture rate for Dark Matter in the Sun for models where the dominant interaction with nuclei is inelastic -- the Dark Matter up-scatters to a nearby dark "partner" state with a small splitting of order a 100 keV. Such models have previously been shown to be compatible with DAMA/LIBRA data, as well as data from all other direct detection experiments. The kinematics of inelastic Dark Matter ensures that the dominant contribution to capture occurs from scattering off of iron. We give a prediction for neutrino rates for current and future neutrino telescopes based on the results fr…
The coannihilation mechanism is a well-motivated alternative to the simple thermal freeze-out mechanism, where the dark matter relic density can be obtained through the coannihilation with a partner particle of similar mass with dark matter. When the partner particle is neutral, the inelastic nature of dark matter can help it to escape the direct detection limits. In this work, we focus on the coannihilation scenario in which the annihilation cross section is dominated by the partner-partner pair annihilation. We pay special interest on the parameter space where the coannihilation partner is l…
We perform an extensive study of the DAMA annual modulation data in the context of inelastic dark matter. We find that inelastic dark matter with mass m > 15 GeV is excluded at the 95% confidence level by the combination of DAMA spectral information and results from other direct detection experiments. However, at smaller m, inelastic dark matter constitutes a possible solution to the DAMA puzzle.
We study a generic model in which the dark sector is composed of a Majorana dark matter $χ_1$, its excited state $χ_2$, both at the electroweak scale, and a light dark photon $Z'$ with $m_{Z'} \sim 10^{-4}$ eV. The light $Z'$ enhances the self-scattering elastic cross section $χ_1 χ_1 \to χ_1 χ_1$ enough to solve the small scale problems in the $N$-body simulations with the cold dark matter. The dark matter communicates with the SM via kinetic mixing parameterized by $ε$. The inelastic scattering process $χ_1 χ_1 \to χ_2 χ_2$ followed by the prompt decay $χ_2 \to χ_1 Z'$ generates energetic $Z…
We reanalyze the annual modulation data observed by CoGeNT experiment and show that if the annually modulated anomaly detected by CoGeNT is induced by collision between dark matter particle and nucleus, it can be fitted by a $Z'$ model with inelastic dark matter and isospin-violating interaction, and the constraint from XENON100 can be avoided. This $Z'$ model is strongly constrained by collider physics that the upper bound of the mass of $Z'$ is around twice of the mass of dark matter.
A simple model for magnetic inelastic dark matter (MiDM), which is a minimal extension of the standard model with right-handed neutrinos ($N_R$), a singly charged scalar ($S$) and a vector-like charged fermion ($E$), has been presented. In this framework in which dark matter inelastically scatters off nuclei through a magnetic dipole interaction by making a transition to a nearly degenerate state with a mass splitting ($δ$) of 100 keV. The model is constrained from Direct detection experiments, DAMA and COGENT. In our analysis we do not find any parameter space using the recent annual modulati…
Inelastic Scattering Effects on Attenuation of Boosted Dark Matter
Nanjing Normal University（南京师范大学）；Institute of Theoretical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences（中国科学院理论物理研究所）；University of Chinese Academy of Sciences（中国科学院大学）；Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)（卡尔斯鲁厄理工学院）；Henan Normal University（河南师范大学）
Motivated by the recently reported excess of electron recoil events by the XENON1T experiment, we propose low scale seesaw scenarios for light neutrino masses within $U(1)_X$ gauge extension of the standard model that also predicts stable as well as long lived dark sector particles. The new fields necessary for seesaw realisation as well as dark matter are charged under the $U(1)_X$ gauge symmetry in an anomaly free way. A singlet scalar field which effectively gives rise to lepton number violation and hence Majorana light neutrino masses either at tree or radiative level, also splits the dark…
Explaining the LZ High-Energy Recoil Event with Inelastic Sneutrino Dark Matter in Supersymmetry
Henan Institute of Science and Technology（河南科技大学）；Centre for Theoretical Physics, Henan Normal University（河南师范大学理论物理中心）；Institute of Theoretical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences（中国科学院理论物理研究所）
For Whom the Xenon Recoils: Magnetic Inelastic Dark Baryons
University of California Santa Cruz（加州大学圣克鲁兹分校）；California Institute of Technology（加州理工学院）；Fermilab（费米国家加速器实验室）；University of Pittsburgh（匹兹堡大学）；University of Oregon（俄勒冈大学）
In light of recent positive results from the DAMA experiment, as well as new null results from CDMS Soudan, Edelweiss, ZEPLIN-I and CRESST, we reexamine the framework of inelastic dark matter with a standard halo. In this framework, which was originally introduced to reconcile tensions between CDMS and DAMA, dark matter particles can scatter off of nuclei only by making a transition to a nearly degenerate state that is roughly $100 \kev$ heavier. We find that recent data significantly constrains the parameter space of the framework, but that there are still regions consistent with all experime…
It is shown how a mechanism which allows naturally small Dirac neutrino masses is linked to the existence of dark matter through an anomaly-free U(1) gauge symmetry of fermion singlets.
Using a mechanism which allows naturally small Dirac neutrino masses and its linkage to a dark gauge $U(1)_D$ symmetry, a realistic Dirac neutrino mass matrix is derived from $S_3$. The dark sector naturally contains a fermion singlet having a small seesaw mass. It is thus a good candidate for freeze-in dark matter from the decay of the $U(1)_D$ Higgs boson.
We propose a unified scenario to generate the masses of Dirac neutrinos and cold dark matter at the TeV scale, understand the origin of dark energy and explain the matter-antimatter asymmetry of the universe. This model can lead to significant impact on the Higgs searches at LHC.
We consider the capture of inelastic dark matter in white dwarves by inelastic spin-independent scattering on nuclei. We show that if the dark matter annihilates to standard-model particles then, under the assumption of primordial globular cluster formation, the observation of cold white dwarves in the globular cluster M4 appears inconsistent with explanations of the observed DAMA/LIBRA annual modulation signal based on spin-independent inelastic dark matter scattering. Alternatively if the inelastic dark matter scenario were to be confirmed and it was found to annihilate to standard-model par…
We study the phenomenology of singlet Dirac fermion dark matter in the simplified models where the dark matter interacts with the Standard Model particles at loop-level with the help of either colored or non-colored mediators. We especially focus on the implications of non-zero CP phases in the dark sector, which induce the electric dipole moments of the Dirac fermion dark matter as well as those of electron and nucleon. It is then found that the dark matter direct detection searches and the measurements of the electric dipole moments are able to test the singlet Dirac fermion dark matter scen…
Composite dark matter is a natural setting for implementing inelastic dark matter - the O(100 keV) mass splitting arises from spin-spin interactions of constituent fermions. In models where the constituents are charged under an axial U(1) gauge symmetry that also couples to the Standard Model quarks, dark matter scatters inelastically off Standard Model nuclei and can explain the DAMA/LIBRA annual modulation signal. This article describes the early Universe cosmology of a minimal implementation of a composite inelastic dark matter model where the dark matter is a meson composed of a light and …
Asymmetric Inelastic Dark Matter and the LUX-ZEPLIN event
University of Tokyo（东京大学）；Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (WPI), UTIAS, The University of Tokyo（宇宙物理与数学研究 Kavli 研究所（WPI）、UTIAS，东京大学）；Tsung-Dao Lee Institute & School of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University（上海交大李政道研究所及物理与天文学院）
The annual modulation observed by DAMA/NaI and DAMA/Libra may be interpreted in terms of elastic or inelastic scattering of dark matter particles. In this paper we confront these two scenarios within the framework of a very simple extension of the Standard Model, the Inert Doublet Model (IDM). In this model the dark matter candidate is a scalar, the lightest component of an extra Higgs doublet. We first revisit the case for the elastic scattering of a light scalar WIMP, M_DM~10 GeV, a scenario which requires that a fraction of events in DAMA are channelled. Second we consider the possibility o…
Direct detection experiments aim at the detection of dark matter in the form of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) by searching for signals from elastic dark matter nucleus scattering. Additionally, inelastic scattering in which the nucleus is excited is expected from nuclear physics and provides an additional detectable signal. In the context of a low-energy effective field theory we investigate the experimental reach to these inelastic transitions for xenon-based detectors employing a dual-phase time projection chamber. We find that once a dark matter signal is established, inelast…
We discuss the neutrino constraints from solar and terrestrial dark matter (DM) annihilations in the inelastic dark matter (iDM) scenario after the recent CDMS II results. To reconcile the DAMA/LIBRA data with constraints from all other direct experiments, the iDM needs to be light ($m_χ< 100$ GeV) and have a large DM-nucleon cross section ($σ_n \sim$ 10$^{-4}$ pb in the spin-independent (SI) scattering and $σ_n \sim$ 10 pb in the spin-dependent (SD) scattering). The dominant contribution to the iDM capture in the Sun is from scattering off Fe/Al in the SI/SD case. Current bounds from Super-Ka…
We study the compatibility of the observed DAMA modulation signal with inelastic scattering of dark matter (DM) off of the $0.1\%$ Thallium (Tl) dopant in DAMA. In this work we test whether there exist regions of parameter space where the Tl interpretation gives a good fit to the most recent data from DAMA, and whether these regions are compatible with the latest constraints from other direct detection experiments. Previously, Chang et al. in 2010, had proposed the Tl interpretation of the DAMA data, and more recently (in 2019) the DAMA/LIBRA collaboration found regions in parameter space of T…
Radiative Corrections to the Direct Detection of Inelastic Scattering of Higgsino-like Neutralino Dark Matter
Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence deemed to be University（希夫·纳德卓越机构大学）；Homi Bhabha National Institute（霍米·巴巴国立研究所）；Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics, Moscow State University（莫斯科国立大学斯科别尔岑核物理研究所）
We propose a simple radiative neutrino mass scenario with a Dirac dark matter candidate, which is minimally realized by a Z3 symmetry. We introduce two Dirac neutrinos and two inert doublets. We demonstrate that the model has a large allowed region that satisfies the constraints from neutrino oscillation data, lepton flavor violations, direct/indirect detection of dark matter and dark matter relic density. We also propose an efficient parameterization of the neutrino Yukawa couplings, which reproduces a desired active neutrino mass matrix.
The notion of U(1) lepton number (which may only be softly broken) is applied to models of dark matter which interacts with leptons. Previous scotogenic models of Majorana or Dirac neutrino mass are shown to be derivable in this framework without additional symmetries. Only complete renormalizable theories are considered. An explicit class of models with $Z_n$ ($n \geq 5$) lepton and dark symmetry for Dirac neutrinos is derived, as well as an example of $Z_3$ dark symmetry.
We explore a novel class of multi-particle dark sectors, called Inelastic Boosted Dark Matter (iBDM). These models are constructed by combining properties of particles that scatter off matter by making transitions to heavier states (Inelastic Dark Matter) with properties of particles that are produced with a large Lorentz boost in annihilation processes in the galactic halo (Boosted Dark Matter). This combination leads to new signals that can be observed at ordinary direct detection experiments, but require unconventional searches for energetic recoil electrons in coincidence with displaced mu…
The inelastic dark matter scenario was proposed to reconcile the DAMA annual modulation with null results from other experiments. In this scenario, WIMPs scatter into an excited state, split from the ground state by an energy delta comparable to the available kinetic energy of a Galactic WIMP. We note that for large splittings delta, the dominant scattering at DAMA can occur off of thallium nuclei, with A~205, which are present as a dopant at the 10^-3 level in NaI(Tl) crystals. For a WIMP mass m~100GeV and delta~200keV, we find a region in delta-m-parameter space which is consistent with all …
