arXiv subjects

Jakub Scholtz

Publications and source records attributed to Jakub Scholtz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2024

Improved Constraints on Dark Matter Annihilations Around Primordial Black Holes

Cosmology may give rise to appreciable populations of both particle dark matter and primordial black holes (PBH) with the combined mass density providing the observationally inferred value $Ω_{\rm DM}\approx0.26$. However, previous studies have highlighted that scenarios with both particle dark matter and PBH are strongly excluded by $γ$-ray limits for particle dark matter with a velocity independent thermal cross section $\langleσv\rangle\sim3\times10^{-26}{\rm cm}^3/{\rm s}$, as is the case for classic WIMP dark matter. Here we extend these existing studies on $s$-wave annihilating particle dark matter to ascertain the limits from diffuse $γ$-rays on velocity dependent annihilations which are $p$-wave with $\langleσv \rangle\propto v^2$ or $d$-wave with $\langleσv \rangle\propto v^4$, which we find to be considerably less constraining. Furthermore, we highlight that even if the freeze-out process is $p$-wave it is relatively common for (loop/phase-space) suppressed $s$-wave processes to actually provide the leading contributions to the experimentally constrained $γ$-ray flux from the PBH halo. This work also utilyses a refined treatment of the PBH dark matter density profile and outlines an improved application of extra-galactic $γ$-ray bounds.

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arXiv2021

Resurrecting the Fraternal Twin WIMP Miracle

In Twin Higgs models which contain the minimal particle content required to address the little hierarchy problem (i.e. fraternal models), the twin tau has been identified as a promising candidate for dark matter. In this class of scenarios, however, the elastic scattering cross section of the twin tau with nuclei exceeds the bounds from XENON1T and other recent direct detection experiments. In this paper, we propose a modification to the Fraternal Twin Higgs scenario that we call $\mathbb{Z}_2$FTH, incorporating visible and twin hypercharged scalars (with $Y = 2$) which break twin electromagnetism. This leads to new mass terms for the twin tau that are unrelated to its Yukawa coupling, as well as additional annihilation channels via the massive twin photon. We show that these features make it possible for the right-handed twin tau to freeze out with an acceptable thermal relic abundance while scattering with nuclei at a rate that is well below existing constraints. Nonetheless, large portions of the currently viable parameter space in this model are within the reach of planned direct detection experiments. The prospects for indirect detection using gamma rays and cosmic-ray antiprotons are also promising in this model. Furthermore, if the twin neutrino is light, the predicted deviation of $ΔN_\mathrm{eff} \approx 0.1$ would be within reach of Stage 4 CMB experiments. Finally, the high luminosity LHC should be able to probe the entire parameter space of the $\mathbb{Z}_2$FTH model through charged scalar searches. We also discuss how searches for long-lived particles are starting to constrain Fraternal Twin Higgs models.

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arXiv2020

Kick-alignment: matter asymmetry sourced dark matter

We investigate the possibility that the dark matter abundance is sourced by the baryon/lepton asymmetry of the early Universe. It turns out that a Goldstone field of a local classically preserved symmetry in the Standard Model experiences a kick during a period of baryon/lepton number generation. This mechanism can be regarded as dynamical generation of initial conditions for misalignment yet the prediction for relic abundance presents an inverse dependence on the coupling in parallel with freeze-in vs freeze-out. We explore two realizations of this mechanism and show that in conjunction with leptogenesis, it is possible to identify a viable promising region of parameter space for dark matter production with mass 10 MeV - 1 GeV and decay constant f in the range of $10^{10} - 10^{12}$ GeV.

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arXiv2020

Using Circular Polarisation to Test the Composition and Dynamics of Astrophysical Particle Accelerators

We investigate the production of circularly polarised X and gamma-ray signals in cosmic accelerators such as supernova remnants and AGN jets. Proton-proton and proton-photon collisions within these sites produce a charge asymmetry in the distribution of mesons and muons that eventually leads to a net circular polarisation signal as these particles decay radiatively. We find that the fraction of circular polarisation thus produced is at the level of $ 5 \times 10^{-4}$, regardless of the exact beam spectrum, as long as it is made predominantly of protons. While this fraction is very small, the detection of circular polarisation signals in conjunction with high-energy neutrinos would provide an unambiguous signature of the presence of high-energy protons in cosmic accelerators. In Supernovae shocks in particular, this would indicate the presence of relativistic protons hitting stationary protons and/or low-energy photons in the intergalactic or interstellar medium.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2019

$ΔA_{CP}$ within the Standard Model and beyond

In light of the recent LHCb observation of CP violation in the charm sector, we review standard model (SM) predictions in the charm sector and in particular for $ΔA_{CP}$. We get as an upper bound in the SM $| ΔA_{CP} ^{\rm SM}| \leq 3.6 \times 10^{-4}$, which can be compared to the measurement of $ΔA_{CP} ^{\rm LHCb2019} = (-15.4 \pm 2.9) \times 10^{-4}$. We discuss resolving this tension within an extension of the SM that includes a flavour violating $Z'$ that couples only to $\bar{s}s$ and $\bar{c}u$. We show that for masses below 80 GeV and flavour violating coupling of the order of $10^{-4}$, this model can successfully resolve the tension and avoid constraints from dijet searches, $D^0-\overline{D}^0$ mixing and measurements of the $Z$ width.

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arXiv2019

What if Planet 9 is a Primordial Black Hole?

We highlight that the anomalous orbits of Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs) and an excess in microlensing events in the 5-year OGLE dataset can be simultaneously explained by a new population of astrophysical bodies with mass several times that of Earth ($M_\oplus$). We take these objects to be primordial black holes (PBHs) and point out the orbits of TNOs would be altered if one of these PBHs was captured by the Solar System, inline with the Planet 9 hypothesis. Capture of a free floating planet is a leading explanation for the origin of Planet 9 and we show that the probability of capturing a PBH instead is comparable. The observational constraints on a PBH in the outer Solar System significantly differ from the case of a new ninth planet. This scenario could be confirmed through annihilation signals from the dark matter microhalo around the PBH.

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arXiv2019

Proper Motions of the Satellites of M31

We predict the range of proper motions of 19 satellite galaxies of M31 that would rotationally stabilise the M31 plane of satellites consisting of 15-20 members as identified by Ibata et al. (2013). Our prediction is based purely on the current positions and line-of-sight velocities of these satellites and the assumption that the plane is not a transient feature. These predictions are therefore independent of the current debate about the formation history of this plane. We further comment on the feasibility of measuring these proper motions with future observations by the THEIA satellite mission as well as the currently planned observations by HST and JWST.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2018

A Higgsploding Theory of Dark Matter

We show that the Higgsplosion mechanism makes a prediction for the mass and coupling of a WIMP-like minimal scalar dark matter model. In particular the currently favoured minimal value for the Higgsplosion scale, $E_\mathrm{H}\sim 25$ TeV, implies a dark matter mass $m_\mathrm{DM} \sim 1.25$ TeV and a moderate quartic coupling with the Standard Model Higgs field $λ_\mathrm{H,DM} \sim 0.4$. This point in the parameter space is still allowed by all current experimental bounds, including direct detection (XENON), indirect detection (HESS, Fermi, Planck) and collider searches. We have updated the scalar dark matter bounds to reflect the latest results from XENON and HESS experiments. We also comment on vacuum stability and dark matter self-interactions in this model.

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arXiv2017

Dark Catalysis

Recently it was shown that dark matter with mass of order the weak scale can be charged under a new long-range force, decoupled from the Standard Model, with only weak constraints from early Universe cosmology. Here we consider the implications of an additional charged particle $C$ that is light enough to lead to significant dissipative dynamics on galactic times scales. We highlight several novel features of this model, which can be relevant even when the $C$ particle constitutes only a small fraction of the number density (and energy density). We assume a small asymmetric abundance of the $C$ particle whose charge is compensated by a heavy $X$ particle so that the relic abundance of dark matter consists mostly of symmetric $X$ and $\bar{X}$, with a small asymmetric component made up of $X$ and $C$. As the universe cools, it undergoes asymmetric recombination binding the free $C$s into $(XC)$ dark atoms efficiently. Even with a tiny asymmetric component, the presence of $C$ particles catalyzes tight coupling between the heavy dark matter $X$ and the dark photon plasma that can lead to a significant suppression of the matter power spectrum on small scales and lead to some of the strongest bounds on such dark matter theories. We find a viable parameter space where structure formation constraints are satisfied and significant dissipative dynamics can occur in galactic haloes but show a large region is excluded. Our model shows that subdominant components in the dark sector can dramatically affect structure formation.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2017

Make Dark Matter Charged Again

We revisit constraints on dark matter that is charged under a $U(1)$ gauge group in the dark sector, decoupled from Standard Model forces. We find that the strongest constraints in the literature are subject to a number of mitigating factors. For instance, the naive dark matter thermalization timescale in halos is corrected by saturation effects that slow down isotropization for modest ellipticities. The weakened bounds uncover interesting parameter space, making models with weak-scale charged dark matter viable, even with electromagnetic strength interaction. This also leads to the intriguing possibility that dark matter self-interactions within small dwarf galaxies are extremely large, a relatively unexplored regime in current simulations. Such strong interactions suppress heat transfer over scales larger than the dark matter mean free path, inducing a dynamical cutoff length scale above which the system appears to have only feeble interactions. These effects must be taken into account to assess the viability of darkly-charged dark matter. Future analyses and measurements should probe a promising region of parameter space for this model.

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arXiv2017

Theia: Faint objects in motion or the new astrometry frontier

In the context of the ESA M5 (medium mission) call we proposed a new satellite mission, Theia, based on relative astrometry and extreme precision to study the motion of very faint objects in the Universe. Theia is primarily designed to study the local dark matter properties, the existence of Earth-like exoplanets in our nearest star systems and the physics of compact objects. Furthermore, about 15 $\%$ of the mission time was dedicated to an open observatory for the wider community to propose complementary science cases. With its unique metrology system and "point and stare" strategy, Theia's precision would have reached the sub micro-arcsecond level. This is about 1000 times better than ESA/Gaia's accuracy for the brightest objects and represents a factor 10-30 improvement for the faintest stars (depending on the exact observational program). In the version submitted to ESA, we proposed an optical (350-1000nm) on-axis TMA telescope. Due to ESA Technology readiness level, the camera's focal plane would have been made of CCD detectors but we anticipated an upgrade with CMOS detectors. Photometric measurements would have been performed during slew time and stabilisation phases needed for reaching the required astrometric precision.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2016

Cores in Dwarf Galaxies from Fermi Repulsion

We show that Fermi repulsion can lead to cored density profiles in dwarf galaxies for sub-keV fermionic dark matter. We treat the dark matter as a quasi-degenerate self-gravitating Fermi gas and calculate its density profile assuming hydrostatic equilibrium. We find that suitable dwarf galaxy cores of larger than 130 pc can be achieved for fermion dark matter with mass in the range 70 eV - 400 eV. While in conventional dark matter scenarios, such sub-keV thermal dark matter would be excluded by free streaming bounds, the constraints are ameliorated in models with dark matter at lower temperature than conventional thermal scenarios, such as the Flooded Dark Matter model that we have previously considered. Modifying the arguments of Tremaine and Gunn we derive a conservative lower bound on the mass of fermionic dark matter of 70 eV and a stronger lower bound from Lyman-$α$ clouds of about 470 eV, leading to slightly smaller cores than have been observed. We comment on this result and how the tension is relaxed in dark matter scenarios with non-thermal momentum distributions.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2016

Flooded Dark Matter and S Level Rise

Most dark matter (DM) models set the DM relic density by some interaction with Standard Model particles. Such models generally assume the existence of Standard Model particles early on, with the DM relic density a later consequence of those interactions. Perhaps a more compelling assumption is that DM is not part of the Standard Model sector and a population of DM too is generated at the end of inflation. This democratic assumption does not necessarily provide a natural value for the DM relic density, and superficially leads to too much entropy in the dark sector. We address the latter issue by the late decay of heavy particles produced at early times, associating the DM relic density with the lifetime of a long-lived state. We ask what it would take for this scenario to be compatible with observations in what we call Flooded Dark Matter (FDM) and discuss several interesting consequences. One is that DM can be very light and furthermore, light DM is in some sense the most natural scenario in FDM as it is compatible with larger couplings of the decaying particle. Moreover, the decay of the field with the smallest coupling and hence the longest lifetime dominates the entropy and possibly the matter content of the Universe, a principle we refer to as 'Maximum Baroqueness'. We also show that the dark sector should be colder than the ordinary sector, relaxing the free-streaming constraints on light DM. We will discuss the implications for the core-cusp problem in a follow-up paper. FDM also has interesting baryogenesis implications. One possibility is that both DM and baryon asymmetries are simultaneously diluted by a late entropy dump. Alternatively, FDM is compatible with an elegant non-thermal leptogenesis implementation in which decays of a heavy RH neutrino lead to late time reheating of the Standard Model and provide suitable conditions for creation of a lepton asymmetry.

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arXiv2016

Precision Diboson Observables for the LHC

Motivated by the restoration of $SU(2)\times U(1)$ at high energy, we suggest that certain ratios of diboson differential cross sections can be used as high-precision observables at the LHC. We rewrite leading-order diboson partonic cross sections in a form that makes their $SU(2)\times U(1)$ and custodial $SU(2)$ structure more explicit than in previous literature, and identify important aspects of this structure that survive even in hadronic cross sections. We then focus on higher-order corrections to ratios of $γγ$, $Zγ$ and $ZZ$ processes, including full next-to-leading-order corrections and $gg$ initial-state contributions, and argue that these ratios can likely be predicted to better than $5\%$, which should make them useful in searches for new phenomena. The ratio of $Zγ$ to $γγ$ is especially promising in the near term, due to large rates and to exceptional cancellations of QCD-related uncertainties. We argue that electroweak corrections are moderate in size, have small uncertainties, and can potentially be observed in these ratios in the long run.

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arXiv2014

Dissipative Dark Matter and the Andromeda Plane of Satellites

We show that dissipative dark matter can potentially explain the large observed mass to light ratio of the dwarf satellite galaxies that have been observed in the recently identified planar structure around Andromeda, which are thought to result from tidal forces during a galaxy merger. Whereas dwarf galaxies created from ordinary disks would be dark matter poor, dark matter inside the galactic plane not only provides a source of dark matter, but one that is more readily bound due to the dark matter's lower velocity. This initial N-body study shows that with a thin disk of dark matter inside the baryonic disk, mass-to-light ratios as high as O(30) can be generated when tidal forces pull out patches of sizes similar to the scales of Toomre instabilities of the dark disk. A full simulation will be needed to confirm this result.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2013

Heavy Flavor & Dark Sector

We consider some contributions to rare processes in $B$ meson decays from a Dark Sector containing 2 light unstable scalars, with large couplings to each other and small mixings with Standard Model Higgs scalars. We show that existing constraints allow for an exotic contribution to high multiplicity final states with a branching fraction as large as $\mathcal{O}(10^{-4})$, and that exotic particles could appear as narrow resonances or long lived particles which are mainly found in high multiplicity final states from $B$ decays.

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arXiv2012

Phenomenology of Photon-Jets

One of the challenges of collider physics is to unambiguously associate detector based objects with the corresponding elementary physics objects. A particular example is the association of calorimeter-based objects such as "jets", identified with a standard (IR-safe) jet algorithm, with the underlying physics objects, which may be QCD-jets (arising from a scattered parton), electrons, photons and, as discussed here, photon-jets (a group of collinear photons). This separation is especially interesting in the context of Higgs searches, where the signal includes both di-photon (in the Standard Model) and di-photon-jet decays (in a variety of Beyond the Standard Model scenarios), while QCD provides an ever-present background. Here we describe the implementation of techniques from the rapidly evolving area of jet-substructure studies to not only enhance the more familiar photon-QCD separation, but also separately distinguish photon-jets, i.e., separate usual jets into three categories: single photons, photon-jets and QCD. The efficacy of these techniques for separation is illustrated through studies of simulated data.

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arXiv2012

Jets and Photons

This Letter applies the concept of `jets', as constructed from calorimeter cell four-vectors, to jets composed (primarily) of photons (or leptons). Thus jets become a superset of both traditional objects such as QCD-jets, photons, and electrons, and more unconventional objects such as photon-jets and electron-jets, defined as collinear photons and electrons, respectively. Since standard objects such as single photons become a subset of jets in this approach, standard jet substructure techniques are incorporated into the photon finder toolbox. We demonstrate that, for a single photon identification efficiency of 80% or above, the use of jet substructure techniques reduces the number of QCD-jets faking photons by factors of 2.5 to 4. Depending on the topology of the photon-jets, the substructure variables reduce the number of photon-jets faking single photons by factors of 10 to 10^3 at a single photon identification efficiency of 80%.

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