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At least 37 records · Page 2

Hazma: a python toolkit for studying indirect detection of sub-GeV dark matter

With several proposed MeV gamma-ray telescopes on the horizon, it is of paramount importance to perform accurate calculations of gamma-ray spectra expected from sub-GeV dark matter annihilation and decay. We present hazma, a python package for reliably computing these spectra, determining the resulting constraints from existing gamma-ray data, and prospects for upcoming telescopes. For high-level analyses, hazma comes with several built-in dark matter models where the interactions between dark matter and hadrons have been determined in detail using chiral perturbation theory. Additionally, hazma provides tools for computing spectra from individual final states with arbitrary numbers of light leptons and mesons, and for analyzing custom dark matter models. hazma can also produce electron and positron spectra from dark matter annihilation, enabling precise derivation of constraints from the cosmic microwave background

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

A testable hidden-sector model for Dark Matter and neutrino masses

We consider a minimal extension of the Standard Model with a hidden sector charged under a dark local U(1)' gauge group, accounting simultaneously for light neutrino masses and the observed Dark Matter relic abundance. The model contains two copies of right-handed neutrinos which give rise to light neutrino-masses via an extended seesaw mechanism. The presence of a stable Dark-Matter candidate and a massless state naturally arise by requiring the simplest anomaly-free particle content without introducing any extra symmetries. We investigate the phenomenology of the hidden sector considering the U(1)' breaking scale of the order of the electroweak scale. Confronting the thermal history of this hidden-sector model with existing and future constraints from collider, direct and indirect detection experiments provides various possibilities of probing the model in complementary ways as every particle of the dark sector plays a specific cosmological role. Across the identified viable parameter space, a large region predicts a sizable contribution to the effective relativistic degrees-of-freedom in the early Universe that allows to alleviate the recently reported tension between late and early measurements of the Hubble constant.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

IceCube at the frontier of macroscopic dark matter direct detection

For a class of macroscopic dark matter models, inelastic scattering of dark matter off a nucleus can generate electromagnetic signatures with GeV-scale energy. The IceCube detector, with its kilometer-scale size, is ideal for directly detecting such inelastic scattering. Based on the slow particle trigger for the DeepCore detector, we perform a detailed signal and background simulation to estimate the discovery potential. For order 1 GeV deposited energy in each interaction, we find that IceCube can probe the dark matter masses up to one gram.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Freeze-in dark matter from secret neutrino interactions

We investigate a simplified freeze-in dark-matter model in which the dark matter only interacts with the standard-model neutrinos via a light scalar. The extremely small coupling for the freeze-in mechanism is naturally realized in several neutrino-portal scenarios with the secret neutrino interactions. We study possible evolution history of the hidden sector: the dark sector would undergo pure freeze-in production if the interactions between the dark-sector particles are negligible, while thermal equilibrium within the dark sector could occur if the reannihilation of the dark matter and the scalar mediator is rapid enough. We investigate the relic abundance in the freeze-in and dark freeze-out regimes, calculate evolution of the dark temperature, and study its phenomenological aspects on BBN and CMB constraints, the indirect-detection signature, as well as the potential to solve the small scale structure problem.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Model independent dark matter properties from cosmic growth

Dark matter dominates the matter budget of the universe but its nature is unknown. Deviations from the standard model, where dark matter clusters with the same gravitational strength as baryons, and has the same pressureless equation of state as baryons, can be tested by cosmic growth measurements. We take a model independent approach, allowing deviations in bins of redshift, and compute the constraints enabled by ongoing cosmic structure surveys through redshift space distortions and peculiar velocities. These can produce constraints at the 3-14% level in four independent redshift bins over z = [0,4].

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The cosmological evolution of self-interacting dark matter

We study the evolution of cosmological perturbations in dark-matter models with elastic and velocity-independent self interactions. Such interactions are imprinted in the matter-power spectrum as dark acoustic oscillations, which can be experimentally explored to determine the strength of the self scatterings. Models with self interactions have similarities to warm dark matter, as they lead to suppression of power on small scales when the dark-matter velocity dispersion is sizable. Nonetheless, both the physical origin and the extent of the suppression differ for self-interacting dark matter from conventional warm dark matter, with a dark sound horizon controlling the reduction of power in the former case, and a free-streaming length in the latter. We thoroughly analyze these differences by performing computations of the linear power spectrum using a newly developed Boltzmann code. We find that while current Lyman-α data disfavor conventional warm dark matter with a mass less than 5.3 keV, when self interactions are included at their maximal value consistent with bounds from the Bullet Cluster, the limits are relaxed to 4.4 keV. Lastly, we make use of our analysis to set novel bounds on light scalar singlet dark matter.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Search for a Dark Higgs Boson Produced in Association with Inelastic Dark Matter at the Belle II Experiment

Inelastic dark matter models that have two dark matter particles and a massive dark photon can reproduce the observed relic dark matter density without violating cosmological limits. The mass splitting between the two dark matter particles 𝜒 1 and 𝜒 2 , with 𝑚⁡(𝜒 2 ) >𝑚⁡(𝜒 1 ), is induced by a dark Higgs field and a corresponding dark Higgs boson ℎ′. We present a search for dark matter in events with two vertices, at least one of which must be displaced from the interaction region, and missing energy. Using a 365 fb −1 data sample collected at Belle II, which operates at the SuperKEKB 𝑒 + ⁢𝑒 − collider, we observe no evidence for a signal. We set upper limits on the product of the production cross section 𝜎⁡(𝑒 + ⁢𝑒 − → ℎ′⁡𝜒 1 ⁢𝜒 2 ), and the product of branching fractions ℬ⁡(𝜒 2 → 𝜒 1⁢ 𝑒 + ⁢𝑒 − ) ×ℬ⁡(ℎ′ → 𝑥 + ⁢𝑥 − ), where 𝑥 + ⁢𝑥 − indicates 𝜇 + ⁢𝜇 − , 𝜋 + ⁢𝜋 − , or 𝐾 + ⁢𝐾 − , as functions of ℎ′ mass and lifetime at the level of 10 −1 fb. We set model-dependent upper limits on the dark Higgs mixing angle at the level of 10 −5 and on the dark photon kinetic mixing parameter at the level of 10 −3 . This is the first search for dark Higgs bosons in association with inelastic dark matter.

dark matter↗

Cosmic-ray boosted inelastic dark matter from neutrino-emitting active galactic nuclei

Cosmic rays may scatter off dark matter particles in active galactic nuclei, where both the densities of cosmic rays and dark matter are expected to be very large. These scatterings could yield a flux of boosted dark matter particles directly detectable on Earth, which enhances the sensitivity of dark matter direct detection and neutrino experiments to light and inelastic dark matter models. Here we calculate the cosmic-ray boosted dark matter flux from the neutrino-emitting active galactic nuclei, NGC 1068 and TXS 0506+056, by considering realistic cosmic-ray distributions, deep inelastic scatterings, and mass splittings in the dark sector. From this we derive novel bounds from these sources on light and/or inelastic dark matter models with Super-K and XENONnT. We find that cosmic-ray boosted dark matter from neutrino-emitting active galactic nuclei can test regions of parameter space favored to reproduce the observed relic abundance of dark matter in the Universe, and that are otherwise experimentally inaccessible.

Gustafson, R. Andrew [Virginia Tech.; KEK, Tsukuba↗

Search for new physics in the final state with a single photon and large missing transverse momentum in proton-proton collisions at √𝑠 =13 TeV

A search for new physics in events featuring a single photon and missing transverse momentum is presented, using proton-proton √𝑠 =13 TeV collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 101 fb −1 collected by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC between 2017 and 2018. This analysis, combined with a previous study of 36 fb −1 of 2016 data (totaling 137 fb −1 ), reveals no significant deviations from standard model expectations. The results are then used to establish 95% confidence level limits on parameters in theoretical models involving dark matter and large extra dimensions. Compared to the 2016-only analysis, this search achieves up to a 14% improvement in exclusion reach for mediator masses in simplified dark matter models, along with 11% and 10% enhancements in the limits on the effective field theory suppression scale and the fundamental Planck scale, respectively. These results are the most stringent constraints on these parameters to date.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Confinement transition to gravitational waves in the one-flavor $SU(4)$ Hyper Stealth Dark Matter theory

The thermodynamics of the $SU(4)$ gauge theory with a single flavor of fundamental quarks is analyzed on the lattice with dynamical fermion simulations, which is the low-energy sector of a realistic, strongly-interacting dark matter model -- the Hyper Stealth Dark Matter. The gravitational wave spectrum from the first-order confinement transition in the early universe is further calculated, where the effect of the dark sea quarks, which decrease the interface tension in the effective potential of the Polyakov loop, is shown numerically to lower the gravitational wave amplitude.

Ayyar, V. [Boston U.]↗

Search for Dark Matter Induced Deexcitation of 180 Ta m

Weak-scale dark matter particles, in collisions with nuclei, can mediate transitions between different nuclear energy levels. In particular, owing to sizeable momentum exchange, dark matter particles can enable de-excitation of nuclear isomers that are extremely long lived with respect to regular radioactive decays. In this paper, we utilize data from a past experiment with 180 Ta m to search for γ-lines that would accompany dark matter induced de-excitation of this isomer. Non-observation of such transitions above background yields the first direct constraint on the lifetime of 180 Ta m against DM-initiated transitions: T 1/2 > 1.3 × 10 14 a at 90% C.I. Using this result, we derive novel constraints on dark matter models with strongly interacting relics, and on models with inelastic dark matter particles. Existing constraints are strengthened by this independent new method. As a result, the obtained limits are also valid for the Standard Model γ-decay of 180 Ta m .

150 ≤ A ≤ 189↗

The GMRT archive atomic gas survey – II. Mass modelling and dark matter halo properties across late-type spirals

Studying the kinematics and mass modelling of galaxies from H i 21 cm data provides valuable insights into the properties of both the baryonic components and the dark matter halo in nearby galaxies. Despite many observational studies, mass modelling of galaxies remains challenging due to different limitations. For example, most of the previous studies involving mass modelling are based on rotation curves derived from 2D velocity fields from H i or H α spectroscopic observation which are often affected by beam smearing and projection effect. However, kinematic modelling done by fitting the ‘Tilted ring model’ to 3D data cube is not affected by these issues. In this study, we present and compare 3D kinematic modelling of a pilot sample of 11 galaxies from the GMRT archive atomic gas survey (GARCIA) using two different publicly available pipelines. We model the observed H i rotation curve using 3.6-μm infrared data and SDSS r-band data for stellar contribution, H i surface density profile for gas, and Navarro–Frenk–White profile for dark matter halo; and employ the Markov chain Monte Carlo optimization method for parameter estimation. Further, to validate our analysis, we revisit important scaling relations, e.g. the M gas –M star relation, M star –M halo relation, M gas –M halo relation and Baryonic Tully–Fisher relation. Here, the scaling relations from our analysis are broadly consistent with that reported in the literature. A larger sample of galaxies from GARCIA in the near future will allow studying these scaling relations in greater details.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Modifying PyUltraLight to model scalar dark matter with self-interactions

Here we introduce a modification of the pysiultralight code that models the dynamical evolution of ultralight axionlike scalar dark matter fields. Our modified code, pysiultralight, adds a quartic, self-interaction term to reflect the one which arises naturally in axionlike particle models. Using a particle mass of 10−22 eV/c 2 , we show that pysiultralight produces spatially oscillating solitons, exploding solitons, and collapsing solitons which prior analytic work shows will occur with attractive self-interactions. Using our code we calculate the oscillation frequency as a function of soliton mass and equilibrium radius in the presence of attractive self-interactions. We show that when the soliton mass is below the critical mass ($M_c$ = $\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} M_{max}$) described by Chavanis and the initial radius is within a specific range, solitons are unstable and explode. We test the maximum mass criteria described by Chavanis and Chavanis and Delfini for a soliton to collapse when attractive self-interactions are included. We also analyze both binary soliton collisions and a soliton rotating around a central mass with attractive and repulsive self-interactions. We find that when attractive self-interactions are included, the density profiles get distorted after a binary collision. We also find that a soliton is less susceptible to tidal stripping when attractive self-interactions are included. We find that the opposite is true for repulsive self-interactions in that solitons would be more easily tidally stripped. Including self-interactions might therefore influence the survival timescales of infalling solitons.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

H 0 and S 8 tensions necessitate early and late time changes to Λ CDM

An only early or only late time alteration to Λ⁢ CDM has been inadequate at resolving both the H 0 and S 8 tensions simultaneously; however, a combination of early and late time alterations to Λ⁢ CDM can provide a solution to both tensions. As an illustration, we examine a combined early dark energy, decaying dark matter model. While early dark energy has the ability to resolve the H 0 tension, it leads to a discrepancy in S 8 measurements. We show that the addition of decaying dark matter helps resolve the S 8 discrepancy that would otherwise be enhanced in an early dark energy model, while the latter is able to relieve the H 0 disagreement to within the 95th percentile interval. Finally, our results show a preference for the combined model over Λ⁢ CDM with Δ⁢AIC = –6.72, hinting that both early and late Universe modifications may be necessary to address the cosmological tensions.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

A fully Lagrangian, non-parametric bias model for dark matter halos

Here, we present a non-parametric Lagrangian biasing model and fit the ratio of the halo and mass densities at the field level using the mass-weighted halo field in the AbacusSummit simulations at z=0.5. Unlike the perturbative halo bias model that has been widely used in interpreting the observed large-scale structure traced by galaxies, we find a non-negative halo-to-mass ratio that increases monotonically with the linear overdensity δ 1 in the initial Lagrangian space. The bias expansion, however, does not guarantee non-negativity of the halo counts, and may lead to rising halo number counts at negative overdensities. The shape of the halo-to-mass ratio is unlikely to be described by a polynomial function of δ 1 and other quantities. Especially for massive halos with 6×10 12 h -1 M ⊙ , the halo-to-mass ratio starts soaring up at δ 1 >0, substantially different from the predictions of the bias expansion. We show that for the halo masses we consider (M>3×10 11 h -1 M ⊙ ) a non-parametric halo-to-mass ratio as a function of δ 1 and its local derivative ∇^2δ 1 can recover the halo power spectra to sub-percent level accuracy for wavenumbers k=0.01-0.1 h Mpc -1 given a proper smoothing scale to filter the initial density field, even though we do not fit the power spectrum directly. However, there is mild dependence of the recovery of the halo power spectrum on the smoothing scale and other input parameters. At k<0.01 h Mpc -1 and for massive halos with M>6x10 12 h -1 M ⊙ , our non-parametric model leads to a few percent overestimation of the halo power spectrum, indicating the need for larger or multiple smoothing scales. The halo-to-mass ratios obtained qualitatively agree with intuitions from extended Press-Schechter theory. We compare our framework to the bias expansion and discuss possible extensions.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Ultraviolet running constraints on low mass dark sectors

We analyze the UV breakdown of Sub-GeV dark matter models that live in a new, dark U(1) sector. Many of these models include a scalar field, which is either the dark matter itself or a dark Higgs field that generates mass terms for the dark matter particle via spontaneous symmetry breaking. A quartic self coupling of this scalar field is generically allowed, and we show that its running is largely governed by the strength of the U(1) gauge field, α D . Furthermore, it consistently has a lower Landau pole than the gauge coupling. Link fields, which couple to both the dark sector and the Standard Model (SM), connect these Landau poles to constraints on SM charged particles. Current LHC constraints on link fields are compatible with α D ≲ 0.5 - 1 for most of the mass range in most models, while smaller values, α D ≲ 0.15, are favored for Majorana DM.

new light particles↗

The Roman View of Strong Gravitational Lenses

Galaxy–galaxy strong gravitational lenses can constrain dark matter models and the Lambda cold dark matter cosmological paradigm at subgalactic scales. Currently, there is a dearth of images of these rare systems with high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and angular resolution. The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (hereafter Roman), scheduled for launch in late 2026, will play a transformative role in strong-lensing science with its planned wide-field surveys. With its remarkable 0.281 square degree field of view and diffraction-limited angular resolution of ~0$^{''}_.$1, Roman is uniquely suited to characterizing dark matter substructure from a robust population of strong lenses. We present a yield simulation of detectable strong lenses in Roman’s planned High Latitude Wide Area Survey (HLWAS). We simulate a population of galaxy–galaxy strong lenses across cosmic time with cold dark matter subhalo populations, select those detectable in the HLWAS, and generate simulated images accounting for realistic Wide Field Instrument detector effects. For a fiducial case of single 146 s exposures, we predict around 160,000 detectable strong lenses in the HLWAS, of which about 500 will have sufficient SNR to be amenable to detailed substructure characterization. We investigate the effect of variation of the point-spread function across Roman’s field of view on detecting individual subhalos and the suppression of the subhalo mass function at low masses. Our simulation products are available to support strong-lens science with Roman, such as training neural networks and validating dark matter substructure analysis pipelines.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗