Direct detection and complementary constraints for sub-GeV dark matter

Bondarenko, Kyrylo; Sokolenko, Anastasia; Hufnagel, Marco; Boyarsky, Alexey; Schmidt-Hoberg, Kai; Bringmann, Torsten

doi:10.1007/JHEP03(2020)118

Journal Article

PUBDB-2020-01343

Direct detection and complementary constraints for sub-GeV dark matter

Bondarenko, K.Extern* ; Boyarsky, A. ; Bringmann, T. (Corresponding author)Extern* ; Hufnagel, M.DESY* ; Schmidt-Hoberg, K.DESY* ; Sokolenko, A.

2020
SISSA [Trieste]

Journal of high energy physics 2020(3), 118 (2020) [10.1007/JHEP03(2020)118]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1007/JHEP03(2020)118 doi:10.3204/PUBDB-2020-01343

Report No.: DESY-19-140; arXiv:1909.08632

Abstract: Traditional direct searches for dark matter, looking for nuclear recoils in deep underground detectors, are challenged by an almost complete loss of sensitivity for light dark matter particles. Consequently, there is a significant effort in the community to devise new methods and experiments to overcome these difficulties, constantly pushing the limits of the lowest dark matter mass that can be probed this way. From a model-building perspective, the scattering of sub-GeV dark matter on nucleons essentially must proceed via new light mediator particles, given that collider searches place extremely stringent bounds on contact-type interactions. Here we present an updated compilation of relevant limits for the case of a scalar mediator, including a new estimate of the near-future sensitivity of the NA62 experiment as well as a detailed evaluation of the model-specific limits from Big Bang nucleosynthesis. We also derive updated and more general limits on DM particles upscattered by cosmic rays, applicable to arbitrary energy- and momentum dependences of the scattering cross section. Finally we stress that dark matter self-interactions, when evaluated beyond the common s-wave approximation, place stringent limits independently of the dark matter production mechanism. These are, for the relevant parameter space, generically comparable to those that apply in the commonly studied freeze-out case. We conclude that the combination of existing (or expected) constraints from accelerators and astrophysics, combined with cosmological requirements, puts robust limits on the maximally possible nuclear scattering rate. In most regions of parameter space these are at least competitive with the best projected limits from currently planned direct detection experiments.

Keyword(s): dark matter: production ; dark matter: mass ; nucleus: scattering ; nucleosynthesis: big bang ; nucleus: recoil ; direct detection ; sensitivity ; mediation ; deep underground detector ; momentum dependence ; cosmic radiation ; accelerator ; freeze-out ; nucleon ; NA62

Classification:

ddc:530

Note: 39 pages, 7 figures; matches the published version ; publication: JHEP 2020 (2020) 118 ; ;

Contributing Institute(s):

Theorie-Gruppe (T)

Research Program(s):

Experiment(s):

No specific instrument

Appears in the scientific report 2020

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Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 4.0

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