arXiv subjects

Nandini Das

Publications and source records attributed to Nandini Das.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Dark Photon - ALP Freeze-in: 511 keV and H$\alpha$ Constraints

We investigate a freeze-in scenario of two component dark matter consisting of an axion-like particle (ALP) and a dark photon. The dark sector connects to the Standard Model through a dimension-five ALP-dark photon interaction, while a small kinetic mixing governs dark photon decays. Solving the coupled Boltzmann equations, we determine the parameter space consistent with the observed relic abundance. We find that, for a nearly degenerate dark sector, dark photon decay into an electron-positron pair through the kinetic mixing explains the Galactic 511 keV line while the dimension five operator can source the necessary production of dark photon and ALP particles to satisfy the relic density. We further confront the model with recent H$\alpha$ observations of dwarf galaxies, together with constraints from the cosmic microwave background, diffuse gamma rays, direct detection and collider searches. We identify viable regions of parameter space yielding $\Omega_{\rm DM}h^2\simeq0.12$, with an effective scale $\Lambda\sim10^{10}$-$10^{12}$ GeV, and dark photon lifetimes of order $10^{26}$-$10^{29}$ s, while remaining consistent with the observed 511 keV photon flux, $H\alpha$ constraints from Leo T and all other astrophysical constraints.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2026

Chasing Long-Lived Doubly Charged Scalars at Future Lepton Colliders

We come up with a novel search strategy for long-lived doubly charged scalars at future proposed lepton colliders. The doubly charged scalar studied in this work belongs to an $SU(2)_L$ complex scalar triplet that accounts for tiny neutrino masses via the Type-II Seesaw mechanism. For scalar masses $\lesssim 200 $ GeV and appropriate values of the triplet vacuum expectation value, this state can be long-lived and decay predominantly into like-sign muon pairs (e.g. $\mu^+\mu^+ $ or $\mu^-\mu^-$), producing distinctive displaced-vertex signals. We investigate the pair production of these scalars at the International Linear Collider (ILC) and a prospective muon collider, considering their planned center-of-mass energies. Incorporating theoretical and experimental constraints, we study the resulting signature of four leptons accompanied by missing transverse energy. Displaced vertices offer direct evidence of the scalar's long lifetime, while we further show that the invariant mass distribution of same-sign dilepton pairs serves as a powerful complementary probe for discovering doubly charged Higgs bosons at both the ILC and muon collider.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2025

Vector Dark Matter in a $U(1)_X$ extended 2HDM

We investigate the possibility of having a vector boson dark matter in a $U(1)_X$ extended two-Higgs-doublet model (2HDM) setup. The gauge boson gains mass when a SM singlet complex scalar, which is charged under the dark $U(1)_X$ symmetry, acquires vacuum expectation value (\textit{vev}). This scalar acts as the connection between the SM sector and DM via the Higgs portal. An additional exact charge conjugation symmetry inhibits the mixing of this gauge boson with the photon, thereby confirming the stability of DM. On the other hand, 2HDM with Type I $Z_2$ restriction can offer a non-standard Higgs in the lighter mass range. This freedom allows us to accommodate dark matter mass in the (40-60) GeV regime where the direct detection constraints are strongest. We study the dark matter phenomenology of such a model while taking care of all possible theoretical and experimental constraints.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2024

Unveiling the CP-odd Higgs in a Generalized 2HDM at a Muon Collider

We revisit the generalized two-Higgs-doublet model (2HDM) with a minimally perturbed lepton specific (Type-X) Yukawa sector in context of the muon collider. The model offers a large region of parameter space where it can provide a solution to the observed muon ($g-2$) excess. Specifically the low mass CP odd scalar of this model plays an important role to fit this anomaly. Interestingly, the coupling of the pseudo scalar with the muons is proportional to $\tan \beta$ (the ratio of VEVs of the Higgs doublets) which dominantly controls the one loop and two loop contributions of the muon magnetic moment, therefore it can be probed directly at a muon collider with greater sensitivity in comparison to Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Primarily focusing on a parameter space where muon $g-2$ anomaly is satisfied, we explore the available theoretical and experimental constraints arising from vacuum stability, unitarity, lepton falvour violation (LFV), electroweak precision constraint, B-meson decay and collider experiments on the model. In the parameter space where all these constraints are satisfied, we propose to study the production of the light pseudo-scalar $A$ in association with a photon at a $3$ TeV muon collider. Subsequent decay of $A$ into a $\tau$ pair will produce a striking $l^+ l^- \gamma$ plus missing energy signature.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2024

Vector Dark Matter with Higgs Portal in Type II Seesaw framework

We study the phenomenology of a vector dark matter (VDM) in a $U(1)_X$ gauged extension of the Standard Model (SM) which is connected to the type II seesaw framework via the Higgs portal. When this $U(1)_X$ symmetry is spontaneously broken by the vacuum expectation value (VEV) of a complex scalar singlet, the gauge boson $Z^\prime$ becomes massive. The stability of the dark matter (DM) is ensured by the introduction of an exact charge conjugation symmetry. On the other hand, the $SU(2)_L$ triplet scalar generates light neutrino masses through the type II seesaw mechanism. We have studied the phenomenology of the usual WIMP DM considering all possible theoretical and experimental constraints that are applicable. Due to the presence of triplet scalar, our scenario can accommodate the observed $2σ$ deviation in $h \to Z γ$ decay. We have also briefly discussed the possibility of non-thermal production of DM from the decay of the same complex scalar that is responsible for the breaking of this $U(1)_X$ symmetry.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2023

FIMP Dark Matter from Flavon Portals

We investigate the phenomenology of a non-thermal dark matter (DM) candidate in the context of flavor models that explain the hierarchy in the masses and mixings of quarks and leptons via the Froggatt-Nielsen (FN) mechanism. A flavor-dependent $U(1)_{\rm FN}$ symmetry explains the fermion mass and mixing hierarchy, and also provides a mechanism for suppressed interactions of the DM, assumed to be a Majorana fermion, with the Standard Model (SM) particles, resulting in its FIMP (feebly interacting massive particle) character. Such feeble interactions are mediated by a flavon field through higher dimensional operators governed by the $U(1)_{\rm FN}$ charges. We point out a natural stabilizing mechanism for the DM within this framework with the choice of half-integer $U(1)_{\rm FN}$ charge $n$ for the DM fermion, along with integer charges for the SM fermions and the flavon field. In this flavon portal scenario, the DM is non-thermally produced from the decay of the flavon in the early universe which becomes a relic through the freeze-in mechanism. We explore the allowed parameter space for this DM candidate from relic abundance by solving the relevant Boltzmann equations. We find that reproducing the correct relic density requires the DM mass to be in the range $(100-300)$ keV for $n=7.5$ and $(3-10)$ MeV for $n=8.5$ where $n$ is the $U(1)_{\rm FN}$ charge of the DM fermion.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2006

Particle-size dependence of orbital order-disorder transition in LaMnO3

The latent heat (L) associated with the orbital order-disorder transition at T_JT is found to depend significantly on the average particle size (d) of LaMnO3. It rises slowly with the decrease in d down to ~100 nm and then jumps by more than an order of magnitude in between d ~ 100 nm and ~30 nm. Finally, L falls sharply to zero at a critical particle size d_c ~ 19 nm. The transition temperature T_JT also exhibits an almost similar trend of variation with the particle size, near d ~ 30 nm and below, even though the extent of variation is relatively small. The zero-field-cooled (ZFC) and field-cooled (FC) magnetization versus temperature study over a temperature range 10-300 K reveals that the antiferromagnetic transition temperature decreases with d while the temperature range, over which the ZFC and FC data diverge, increases with the drop in d. The FC magnetization also is found to increase sharply with the drop in particle size. A conjecture of nonmonotonic variation in orbital domain structure with decrease in particle size - from smaller domains with large number of boundaries to larger domains with small number of boundaries due to lesser lattice defects and, finally, down to even finer domain structures with higher degree of metastability - along with increase in surface area in core-shell structure, could possibly rationalize the observed L versus d and T_JT versus d patterns. Transmission electron microscopy data provide evidence for presence of core-shell structure as well as for increase in lattice defects in finer particles.

cond-mat.str-el↗