Direct detection and complementary constraints for sub-GeV dark matter. (arXiv:1909.08632v1 [hep-ph])
<a href="http://arxiv.org/find/hep-ph/1/au:+Bondarenko_K/0/1/0/all/0/1">Kyrylo Bondarenko</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/hep-ph/1/au:+Boyarsky_A/0/1/0/all/0/1">Alexey Boyarsky</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/hep-ph/1/au:+Bringmann_T/0/1/0/all/0/1">Torsten Bringmann</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/hep-ph/1/au:+Hufnagel_M/0/1/0/all/0/1">Marco Hufnagel</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/hep-ph/1/au:+Schmidt_Hoberg_K/0/1/0/all/0/1">Kai Schmidt-Hoberg</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/hep-ph/1/au:+Sokolenko_A/0/1/0/all/0/1">Anastasia Sokolenko</a>
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 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 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.
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 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 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.
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