arXiv subjects

R. Foot

Publications and source records attributed to R. Foot.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2020

XENON1T implications for the DAMA annual modulation: The good, the bad and the ugly

Previous work has argued that the DAMA annual modulation signal might be due to electron recoils in plasma dark matter models. A specific model assuming mirror dark matter and featuring collisional shielding of a detector due to Earth-bound dark matter was put forward by this author [arXiv:1806.04293]. That explanation predicted a low energy electron recoil signal in the XENON1T experiment. In light of the excess of electron recoils observed in XENON1T, we re-examine that model's predictions for both DAMA and XENON1T.

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arXiv2020

Plasma dark matter and electronic recoil events in XENON1T

Dark matter might be in the form of a dark plasma in the Milky Way halo. Specifically, we consider here a hidden sector consisting of a light `dark electron' and a much heavier `dark proton', each charged under an unbroken $U(1)'$ gauge symmetry. These self-interacting dark sector particles can also interact with ordinary matter via the kinetic mixing interaction, and lead to a signal in dark matter direct detection experiments. Indeed, keV electron recoils can arise quite naturally in such models from dark electron scattering off loosely bound atomic electrons. Here we examine the recently reported XENON1T excess in the context of such a plasma dark matter model. We find that the observed excess can be explained if kinetic mixing is in the approximate range: $10^{-12} \lesssim \epsilon \lesssim 10^{-10}$. The allowed parameter space is consistent with astrophysical and cosmological constraints and consistent also with other direct detection experiments.

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arXiv2018

Direct detection of mirror helium dark matter in the CRESST-III experiment

Within the context of mirror dark matter, the dominant mass component of the Milky Way dark halo consists of mirror helium ions. Mirror helium can interact with ordinary matter if the kinetic mixing interaction exists. Mirror helium being rather light, $m \simeq 3.73$ GeV, generally produces sub-keV recoils in direct detection experiments. Recently, the CRESST-III experiment has began probing the sub-keV recoil energy region and is currently the most sensitive probe of such particles. We point out here that the small excess seen in the low energy recoil data obtained in the CRESST-III experiment is consistent with mirror helium scattering if the kinetic mixing parameter is around $\epsilon \approx 5 \times 10^{-10}$. This kinetic mixing strength lies within the estimated range favoured by small scale structure considerations.

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arXiv2018

Shielding of a direct detection experiment and implications for the DAMA annual modulation signal

Previous work has argued that, in the framework of plasma dark matter models, the DAMA annual modulation signal can be consistently explained with electron recoils. In the specific case of mirror dark matter, that explanation requires an effective low velocity cutoff, $v_c \gtrsim 30,000$ km/s, for the halo mirror electron distribution at the detector. We show here that this cutoff can result from collisional shielding of the detector from the halo wind due to Earth-bound dark matter. We also show that shielding effects can reconcile the kinetic mixing parameter value inferred from direct detection experiments with the value favoured from small scale structure considerations, $\epsilon \approx 2 \times 10^{-10}$.

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arXiv2018

DAMA annual modulation from electron recoils

Plasma dark matter, which arises in dissipative dark matter models, can give rise to large annual modulation signals from keV electron recoils. Previous work has argued that the DAMA annual modulation signal could have an explanation within such a scenario. However, detailed predictions are difficult due to the inherent complexities involved in modelling the halo plasma interactions with Earth-bound dark matter. Here, we consider a simple phenomenological model for the dark matter velocity function relevant for direct detection experiments, and compare the resulting electron scattering rate with the new DAMA/LIBRA phase 2 data. We also consider the constraints from other experiments, including XENON100 and DarkSide-50.

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arXiv2018

Resolution of the small scale structure issues with dissipative dark matter from multiple Standard Model sectors

Dissipative dark matter arising from a hidden sector consisting of $N_{\rm sec}$ exact copies of the Standard Model is discussed. The particles from each sector interact with those from the other sectors by gravity and via the kinetic mixing interaction, described by the dimensionless parameter, $\epsilon$. It has been known for some time that models of this kind are consistent with large scale structure and the cosmic microwave background measurements. Here, we argue that such models can potentially explain various observations on small scales, including the observed paucity and planar distribution of satellite galaxies, the flat velocity function of field galaxies, and the structure of galaxy halos. The value of the kinetic mixing parameter is estimated to be $\epsilon \approx 1.2 \times 10^{-10}$ for $N_{\rm sec} = 5$, the example studied in most detail here. We also comment on cluster constraints such as those which arise from the Bullet cluster.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2018

Dissipative dark matter halos: The steady state solution II

Within the mirror dark matter model and dissipative dark matter models in general, halos around galaxies with active star formation (including spirals and gas rich dwarfs) are dynamical: they expand and contract in response to heating and cooling processes. Ordinary Type II supernovae (SN) can provide the dominant heat source, possible if kinetic mixing interaction exists with strength $\epsilon \sim 10^{-9} - 10^{-10}$. Dissipative dark matter halos can be modelled as a fluid governed by Euler's equations. Around sufficiently isolated and unperturbed galaxies the halo can relax to a steady state configuration, where heating and cooling rates locally balance and hydrostatic equilibrium prevails. These steady state conditions can be solved to derive the physical properties, including the halo density and temperature profiles, for model galaxies. Here, we have considered idealized spherically symmetric galaxies within the mirror dark particle model, as in the earlier paper [paper I, arXiv:1707.02528], but we have assumed that the local halo heating in the SN vicinity dominates over radiative sources. With this assumption, physically interesting steady state solutions arise which we compute for a representative range of model galaxies. The end result is a rather simple description of the dark matter halo around idealized spherically symmetric systems, characterized in principle by only one parameter, with physical properties that closely resemble the empirical properties of disk galaxies.

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arXiv2017

Dissipative dark matter halos: The steady state solution

Dissipative dark matter, where dark matter particle properties closely resemble familiar baryonic matter, is considered. Mirror dark matter, which arises from an isomorphic hidden sector, is a specific and theoretically constrained scenario. Other possibilities include models with more generic hidden sectors that contain massless dark photons (unbroken $U(1)$ gauge interactions). Such dark matter not only features dissipative cooling processes, but is also assumed to have nontrivial heating sourced by ordinary supernovae (facilitated by the kinetic mixing interaction). The dynamics of dissipative dark matter halos around rotationally supported galaxies, influenced by heating as well as cooling processes, can be modelled by fluid equations. For a sufficiently isolated galaxy with stable star formation rate, the dissipative dark matter halos are expected to evolve to a steady state configuration which is in hydrostatic equilibrium and where heating and cooling rates locally balance. Here, we take into account the major cooling and heating processes, and numerically solve for the steady state solution under the assumptions of spherical symmetry, negligible dark magnetic fields, and that supernova sourced energy is transported to the halo via dark radiation. For the parameters considered, and assumptions made, we were unable to find a physically realistic solution for the constrained case of mirror dark matter halos. Halo cooling generally exceeds heating at realistic halo mass densities. This problem can be rectified in more generic dissipative dark matter models, and we discuss a specific example in some detail.

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arXiv2016

Mirror dark matter will be confirmed or excluded by XENON1T

Mirror dark matter, where dark matter resides in a hidden sector exactly isomorphic to the standard model, can be probed via direct detection experiments by both nuclear and electron recoils if the kinetic mixing interaction exists. In fact, the kinetic mixing interaction appears to be a prerequisite for consistent small scale structure: Mirror dark matter halos around spiral galaxies are dissipative - losing energy via dark photon emission. This ongoing energy loss requires a substantial energy input, which can be sourced from ordinary supernovae via kinetic mixing induced processes in the supernova's core. Astrophysical considerations thereby give a lower limit on the kinetic mixing strength, and indeed lower limits on both nuclear and electron recoil rates in direct detection experiments can be estimated. We show here that potentially all of the viable parameter space will be probed in forthcoming XENON experiments including LUX and XENON1T. Thus, we anticipate that these experiments will provide a definitive test of the mirror dark matter hypothesis.

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arXiv2015

Can dark matter - electron scattering explain the DAMA annual modulation consistent with XENON100 constraints?

For many years annually modulating $\sim$ keV scintillations have been observed in the DAMA/NaI and DAMA/Libra experiments. A dark matter - electron scattering interpretation is now favoured given the stringent constraints on nuclear recoil rates obtained by LUX, SuperCDMS and other experiments. Very recently, the XENON100 experiment has observed a modest annual modulation in their electron recoil events (2.8 $\sigma$ C.L.) with phase consistent with that of the DAMA experiments. However, they also found a stringent upper limit on the unmodulated rate, which suggests that any dark matter - electron scattering interpretation of these annual modulations must involve a large modulation fraction $\stackrel{>}{\sim} 50\%$. Here we discuss the extent to which these results might be able to be accommodated within multi-component dark matter models featuring light dark matter particles of mass $\sim$ MeV, focusing on the mirror dark matter case for definiteness. The importance of diurnal variation as a means of testing these kinds of models is also discussed.

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arXiv2015

Dissipative dark matter and the rotation curves of dwarf galaxies

There is ample evidence from rotation curves that dark matter halos around disk galaxies have nontrivial dynamics. Of particular significance are: a) the cored dark matter profile of disk galaxies, b) correlations of the shape of rotation curves with baryonic properties, and c) Tully-Fisher relations. Dark matter halos around disk galaxies may have nontrivial dynamics if dark matter is strongly self interacting and dissipative. Multicomponent hidden sector dark matter featuring a massless `dark photon' (from an unbroken dark $U(1)$ gauge interaction) which kinetically mixes with the ordinary photon provides a concrete example of such dark matter. The kinetic mixing interaction facilitates halo heating by enabling ordinary supernovae to be a source of these `dark photons'. Dark matter halos can expand and contract in response to the heating and cooling processes, but for a sufficiently isolated halo could have evolved to a steady state or `equilibrium' configuration where heating and cooling rates locally balance. This dynamics allows the dark matter density profile to be related to the distribution of ordinary supernovae in the disk of a given galaxy. In a previous paper a simple and predictive formula was derived encoding this relation. Here we improve on previous work by modelling the supernovae distribution via the measured UV and $H\alpha$ fluxes, and compare the resulting dark matter halo profiles with the rotation curve data for each dwarf galaxy in the LITTLE THINGS sample. The dissipative dark matter concept is further developed and some conclusions drawn.

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arXiv2015

Dissipative dark matter explains rotation curves

Dissipative dark matter, where dark matter particles interact with a massless (or very light) boson, is studied. Such dark matter can arise in simple hidden sector gauge models, including those featuring an unbroken $U(1)'$ gauge symmetry, leading to a dark photon. Previous work has shown that such models can not only explain the LSS and CMB, but potentially also dark matter phenomena on small scales, such as the inferred cored structure of dark matter halos. In this picture, dark matter halos of disk galaxies not only cool via dissipative interactions but are also heated via ordinary supernovae (facilitated by an assumed photon - dark photon kinetic mixing interaction). This interaction between the dark matter halo and ordinary baryons, a very special feature of these types of models, plays a critical role in governing the physical properties of the dark matter halo. Here, we further study the implications of this type of dissipative dark matter for disk galaxies. Building on earlier work, we develop a simple formalism which aims to describe the effects of dissipative dark matter in a fairly model independent way. This formalism is then applied to generic disk galaxies. We also consider specific examples, including NGC 1560 and a sample of dwarf galaxies from the LITTLE THINGS survey. We find that dissipative dark matter, as developed here, does a fairly good job accounting for the rotation curves of the galaxies considered. Not only does dissipative dark matter explain the linear rise of the rotational velocity of dwarf galaxies at small radii, but it can also explain the observed wiggles in rotation curves which are known to be correlated with corresponding features in the disk gas distribution.

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arXiv2014

Diurnal modulation signal from dissipative hidden sector dark matter

We consider a simple generic dissipative dark matter model: a hidden sector featuring two dark matter particles charged under an unbroken $U(1)'$ interaction. Previous work has shown that such a model has the potential to explain dark matter phenomena on both large and small scales. In this framework, the dark matter halo in spiral galaxies features nontrivial dynamics, with the halo energy loss due to dissipative interactions balanced by a heat source. Ordinary supernovae can potentially supply this heat provided kinetic mixing interaction exists with strength $\epsilon \sim 10^{-9}$. This type of kinetically mixed dark matter can be probed in direct detection experiments. Importantly, this self-interacting dark matter can be captured within the Earth and shield a dark matter detector from the halo wind, giving rise to a diurnal modulation effect. We estimate the size of this effect for detectors located in the Southern hemisphere, and find that the modulation is large ($\gtrsim 10\%$) for a wide range of parameters.

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arXiv2014

Dissipative hidden sector dark matter

A simple way of explaining dark matter without modifying known Standard Model physics is to require the existence of a hidden (dark) sector, which interacts with the visible one predominantly via gravity. We consider a hidden sector containing two stable particles charged under an unbroken $U(1)^{'}$ gauge symmetry, hence featuring dissipative interactions. The massless gauge field associated with this symmetry, the dark photon, can interact via kinetic mixing with the ordinary photon. In fact, such an interaction of strength $\epsilon \sim 10 ^{-9}$ appears to be necessary in order to explain galactic structure. We calculate the effect of this new physics on Big Bang Nucleosynthesis and its contribution to the relativistic energy density at Hydrogen recombination. We then examine the process of dark recombination, during which neutral dark states are formed, which is important for large-scale structure formation. Galactic structure is considered next, focussing on spiral and irregular galaxies. For these galaxies we modelled the dark matter halo (at the current epoch) as a dissipative plasma of dark matter particles, where the energy lost due to dissipation is compensated by the energy produced from ordinary supernovae (the core-collapse energy is transferred to the hidden sector via kinetic mixing induced processes in the supernova core). We find that such a dynamical halo model can reproduce several observed features of disk galaxies, including the cored density profile and the Tully-Fisher relation. We also discuss how elliptical and dwarf spheroidal galaxies could fit into this picture. Finally, these analyses are combined to set bounds on the parameter space of our model, which can serve as a guideline for future experimental searches.

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arXiv2014

Can dark matter - electron scattering explain the DAMA annual modulation signal?

The annually modulating $\sim$ keV scintillations observed in the DAMA/NaI and DAMA/Libra experiments might be due to dark matter - electron scattering. Such an explanation is now favoured given the stringent constraints on nuclear recoil rates obtained by LUX, SuperCDMS and other experiments. We suggest that multi-component dark matter models featuring light dark matter particles of mass $\sim$ MeV can potentially explain the data. A specific example, kinetically mixed mirror dark matter, is shown to have the right broad properties to consistently explain the experiments via dark matter - electron scattering. If this is the explanation of the annual modulation signal found in the DAMA experiments then a sidereal diurnal modulation signal is also anticipated. We point out that the data from the DAMA experiments show a diurnal variation at around 2.3$\sigma$ C.L. with phase consistent with that expected. This electron scattering interpretation of the DAMA experiments can potentially be probed in large xenon experiments (LUX, XENON1T,...), as well as in low threshold experiments (CoGeNT, CDEX, C4, ...) by searching for annually and diurnally modulated electron recoils.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2014

Mirror dark matter: Cosmology, galaxy structure and direct detection

A simple way to accommodate dark matter is to postulate the existence of a hidden sector. That is, a set of new particles and forces interacting with the known particles predominantly via gravity. In general this leads to a large set of unknown parameters, however if the hidden sector is an exact copy of the standard model sector, then an enhanced symmetry arises. This symmetry, which can be interpreted as space-time parity, connects each ordinary particle ($e, \ \nu, \ p, \ n, \ \gamma, ....)$ with a mirror partner ($e', \ \nu', \ p', \ n', \ \gamma', ...)$. If this symmetry is completely unbroken, then the mirror particles are degenerate with their ordinary particle counterparts, and would interact amongst themselves with exactly the same dynamics that govern ordinary particle interactions. The only new interaction postulated is photon - mirror photon kinetic mixing, whose strength $\epsilon$, is the sole new fundamental (Lagrangian) parameter relevant for astrophysics and cosmology. It turns out that such a theory, with suitably chosen initial conditions effective in the very early Universe, can provide an adequate description of dark matter phenomena provided that $\epsilon \sim 10^{-9}$. This review focuses on three main developments of this mirror dark matter theory during the last decade: Early universe cosmology, galaxy structure and the application to direct detection experiments.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2013

Tully-Fisher relation, galactic rotation curves and dissipative mirror dark matter

If dark matter is dissipative then the distribution of dark matter within galactic halos can be governed by dissipation, heating and hydrostatic equilibrium. Previous work has shown that a specific model, in the framework of mirror dark matter, can explain several empirical galactic scaling relations. It is shown here that this dynamical halo model implies a quasi-isothermal dark matter density, $\rho (r) = \rho_0 r_0^2/(r^2 + r_0^2)$, where the core radius, $r_0$, scales with disk scale length, $r_D$, via $r_0/{\rm kpc} = 1.4\left(r_D/{\rm kpc}\right)$. Additionally, the product $\rho_0 r_0$ is roughly $constant$, i.e. independent of galaxy size (the $constant$ is set by the parameters of the model). The derived dark matter density profile implies that the galactic rotation velocity satisfies the Tully-Fisher relation, $L_B \propto v^{3}_{max}$, where $v_{max}$ is the maximal rotational velocity. Examples of rotation curves resulting from this dynamics are given.

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arXiv2013

Thin disk of co-rotating dwarfs: a fingerprint of dissipative (mirror) dark matter?

Recent observations indicate that about half of the dwarf satellite galaxies around M31 orbit in a thin plane approximately aligned with the Milky Way. It has been argued that this observation along with several other features can be explained if these dwarf satellite galaxies originated as tidal dwarf galaxies formed during an ancient merger event. However if dark matter is collisionless then tidal dwarf galaxies should be free of dark matter - a condition that is difficult to reconcile with observations indicating that dwarf satellite galaxies are dark matter dominated. We argue that dissipative dark matter candidates, such as mirror dark matter, offer a simple solution to this puzzle.

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