arXiv subjects

Bastián Díaz Sáez

Publications and source records attributed to Bastián Díaz Sáez.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Can LLP detectors probe the reheating temperature? A case study of vector dark matter

We study an extension of the singlet-scalar Higgs portal featuring a dark vector $V_μ$ and a real scalar $ϕ$. The vector is a dark matter (DM) candidate, while $ϕ$ is long-lived and decays via higher-dimensional operators. We explore the DM production via freeze-in at low and high reheating temperatures. At colliders, the decay $ϕ\to Z+V$ yields distinctive long-lived particle (LLP) signatures. We explore the interplay between cosmological constraints and LLP searches at the LHC and FCC-hh, showing that far detectors can probe otherwise inaccessible parameter space and place novel bounds on the reheating temperature.

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arXiv2026

Probing displaced (dark)photons from low reheating freeze-in at the LHC

We extend the Standard Model (SM) by introducing a $U(1)'$ gauge boson and a real pseudo-scalar field, both odd under a $\mathbb{Z}_2$ symmetry. The resulting low-energy spectrum consists of a stable vector as the dark matter candidate, and a pseudo-scalar mediator, which interacts with the SM via a Higgs portal coupling and a dimension-five portal connecting it to both the dark and visible photons. We explore the freeze-in of both particles at low reheating temperature, finding a rich yield evolution dynamics in the early Universe. This setup brings a consistent dark matter scenario in which the dark photon relic abundance is generated through freeze-in at low reheating temperatures. In addition to its cosmological viability, the model can be tested at the LHC: Higgs bosons can decay into dark photons and displaced visible photons via the long-lived mediator. These signatures allow us to constrain the Higgs portal coupling using recent searches for non-pointing photons and limits on invisible or undetected Higgs decays. We derive meaningful constraints on the dark matter parameter space, in particular excluding a thermalized mediator in the region compatible with the observed relic abundance.

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arXiv2025

Testing frozen-in pNGB dark matter with a long-lived dark Higgs

We consider a simple Higgs portal dark matter (DM) model, where the Standard Model is extended with a complex singlet scalar. The imaginary part of the scalar becomes a massive and stable pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone boson, serving as the DM candidate, while the real part gives rise to a second (dark) Higgs boson. We focus on the freeze-in production of the DM, paying particular attention to low-reheating temperature scenarios, where the dark Higgs can be a long-lived particle (LLP). We also explore the phenomenology of this dark Higgs at the LHC and the Future Circular Collider in hadron-hadron mode, discussing its discovery prospects in regions of parameter space consistent with current DM constraints. Our results emphasize the impact of the cosmic reheating dynamics on the DM freeze-in production and their critical role in interpreting collider signatures. Furthermore, our findings suggest that LLP searches may provide insights into the fundamental dynamics of reheating.

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arXiv2025

Freezing-in the Pure Dark Axion Portal

A $Z_2$ symmetry under which "dark'' and "visible'' fields transform differently can further seclude already dark particles. In a dark sector consisting of an axion-like particle and a dark photon the dominant interaction can then be via a dark photon-axion portal to the ordinary photon. If the axion is lighter than the dark photon it naturally emerges as a viable dark matter candidate. We explore its freeze-in production both in a standard high reheating temperature and weak coupling as well as a low reheating temperature and strong coupling regime. Cosmological constraints are taken into account to identify viable regions in parameter space. For the strong freeze-in regime, we highlight the possibility of probing it at B-factories. We also briefly discuss a potential misalignment contribution to the dark matter density and delineate under which conditions it can be neglected.

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arXiv2025

Thermal Dark Photon Dark Matter, Coscattering, and Long-lived ALPs

We study the thermal freeze-out of a dark photon dark matter in the so-called dark-axion portal - a triple coupling among a dark photon, an axion-like particle and the SM $γ$ or $Z$ boson. We analyze in detail the thermal production regimes: coscattering (aka conversion driven freeze-out), mediator freeze-out, and coannihilations. We found viable DM scenarios fulfilling the correct relic abundance in the three regimes. Apart of analyzing the parameter space for dark state masses between the GeV-TeV scale, we explore the prospects of having the axion-like field as a long-lived particle, possibly to be observed at the LHC and future detectors.

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arXiv2024

An example of a bouncing dark matter -- EPS-HEP2023

Thermal dark matter, which, after chemical decoupling from the Standard Model thermal plasma rises its yield before it freezes-out, is a new feature of thermal DM scenarios dubbed as "Bouncing Dark Matter". In the following short note, we introduce the topic, exemplifying the mechanism with a simple model that extends the SM with two dark matter particles, a fermion, and a pNGB, plus a second Higgs. We explore the features of the thermal freeze-out of this scenario, with particular emphasis on the exponential growth of the yield of the pNGB. We test the model under collider bounds, relic abundance, direct detection, and we study prospects for indirect detection observables.

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arXiv2024

Coscattering in the Extended Singlet-Scalar Higgs Portal

We study the coscattering mechanism in a simple Higgs portal which add two real singlet scalars to the Standard Model. In this scenario, the lighter scalar is stabilized by a single $\mathcal{Z}_2$ symmetry and acts as the dark matter relic, whose freeze-out is driven by conversion processes. The heavier scalar becomes an unstable state which participate actively in the coscattering. We find viable parameter regions fulfilling the measured relic abundance, while evading direct detection and big-bang nucleosynthesis bounds. In addition, we discuss collider prospects for the heavier scalar as a long-lived particle at present and future detectors.

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arXiv2024

Bouncing pNGB Dark Matter via a Fermion Dark Matter

In addition to the Standard Model, the introduction of a singlet complex scalar field that acquires vacuum expectation value may give rise to a cosmologically stable pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone boson (pNGB), a suitable dark matter (DM) candidate. This work extends this scenario by including a second cosmologically stable particle: a fermion singlet. The pNGB and the new fermion can be regarded as DM candidates simultaneously, both interacting with the Standard Model through Higgs portals via two non-degenerate Higgs bosons. We explore the thermal freeze-out of this scenario, with particular emphasis on the increasing yield of the pNGB before it completely decouples (recently called Bouncing DM). We test the model under collider bounds, relic abundance, and direct detection, and we explore some indirect detection observables today.

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arXiv2024

Dark Matter from a Radiative Inverse Seesaw Majoron Model

We propose a Majoron-like extension of the Standard Model with an extra global $U(1)_X$-symmetry where neutrino masses are generated through an inverse seesaw mechanism at the 1-loop level. In contrast to the tree-level inverse seesaw, our framework contains dark matter (DM) candidates stabilized by a residual $\mathcal{Z}_2$-symmetry surviving spontaneous breaking of the $U(1)_X$-group. We explore the case in which the DM is a Majorana fermion. Furthermore, we provide parameter space regions allowed by current experimental constraints coming from the dark matter relic abundance, (in)direct detection, and charged lepton flavor violation.

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arXiv2023

(sub)GeV Dark Matter in the $U(1)_X$ Higgs Portal Model

In this research we consider a $U(1)_X$ gauge boson acting as a dark matter candidate. The vector dark matter (DM) gets mass when a complex singlet scalar breaks the gauge symmetry spontaneously, adding a second Higgs boson to the spectra. The dark matter candidates communicate with the SM particles via a scalar-Higgs portal. In this work, we concentrate on the masses of the vector dark matter and the scalar mediator below 10 GeV, aka light dark matter. Although we assume thermal freeze-out for the vector DM using the zero-moment of the full Boltzmann equation to calculate the relic abundance, we explore the effects of the second-moment when the vector DM annihilates resonantly. As typically light DM is highly sensitive to CMB bounds, we focus on two thermal mechanisms which alleviate this bound: dark matter annihilation via forbidden channels and near a pole. Other bounds from colliders, thermalization conditions, beam-dump experiments, and astrophysical observations are imposed. Taking into account all the bounds including the direct detection upper limits, the viable space is achieved.

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arXiv2023

$Z_3$ Scalar Dark Matter with Strong Positron Fluxes

We explore a class of simplified extensions to the Standard Model containing a complex singlet scalar as a dark matter candidate accompanied by a vector-like lepton as a mediator, both charged under a new $Z_3$ symmetry. In its simplest form, the new physics couples only to right-handed electrons, and the model is able to accommodate the correct dark matter relic abundance around the electroweak scale up to several TeV evading the strongest constraints from perturbativity, collider and dark matter searches. Furthermore, the model is capable to enhance naturally positron fluxes by several orders of magnitude presenting a box-shape spectra. This framework opens up a lot of phenomenological possibilities depending on the quantum charge assignments of the new fields.

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arXiv2021

Singlet Scalars as Dark Matter and the Muon g-2 Anomaly

We explore a simple model containing two singlet scalars as dark matter supplemented with a vector-like lepton. Evading collider and dark matter constraints, the model is able to accommodate the correct dark matter relic abundance and the muon g-2 anomaly when the masses of the three new fields are around 100 GeV and the values of the minimum amount of required couplings are order one.

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arXiv2021

Two Real Scalar WIMP Model in the Assisted Freeze-Out Scenario

We study a simple dark matter model given by two interacting real singlet scalars, with only one of them coupled to the Higgs. The model therefore presents a minimal assisted-freeze-out framework: both scalars contribute to the dark matter relic density, but only one of them takes part in the elastic scattering with nuclei. This reduces the expected interaction rate in direct detection experiments in such a way that the model in some regions of the parameter space may evade XENON1T constraints. We explore the model under theoretical (perturbativity, stability potential and unitarity) and experimental constraints (Higgs to invisible, relic density, direct detection), with the use of the narrow-width-approximation near the Higgs resonance to calculate the average annihilation cross section. We show that the model is viable in the Higgs resonance region and for scalar singlets masses of hundreds of GeV, although the model becomes highly constrained at high energies.

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arXiv2021

Fermion Singlet Dark Matter in a Pseudoscalar Dark Matter Portal

We explore a simple extension to the Standard Model containing two gauge singlets: a Dirac fermion and a real pseudoscalar. In some regions of the parameter space both singlets are stable without the necessity of additional symmetries, then becoming a possible two-component dark matter model. We study the relic abundance production via freeze-out, with the latter determined by annihilations, conversions and semi-annihilations. Experimental constraints from invisible Higgs decay, dark matter relic abundance and direct/indirect detection are studied. We found three viable regions of the parameter space, and the model is sensitive to indirect searches.

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arXiv2017

Constraints on vector resonances from a strong Higgs sector

We consider a scenario of a composite Higgs arising from a strong sector. We assume that the lowest lying composite states are the Higgs scalar doublet and a massive vector triplet, whose dynamics below the compositeness scale are described in terms of an effective Lagrangian. Electroweak symmetry breaking takes place through a vacuum expectation value just as in the Standard Model, but with the vector resonances strongly coupled to the Higgs field. We determine the constraints on this scenario imposed by (i) the Higgs diphoton decay rate, (ii) the electroweak precision tests and (iii) searches of heavy resonances at the LHC in the final states $l^+l^-$ and $lν_l$ ($l=e,μ$), $τ^+τ^-$, $jj$, $t\bar{t}$, $WZ$, $WW$, $WH$ and $ZH$. We find that the heavy vector resonances should have masses that are constrained to be in the range $2.1$ - $3$ TeV. On the other hand, the mixing of the heavy vectors with the Standard Model gauge bosons is constrained to be in the range $\tan\vartheta\sim 0.1 - 0.3$, which is consistent with the assumption that the Higgs couples weakly to the Standard sector, even though it couples strongly to the heavy vector resonances.

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