arXiv subjects

Sarah Andreas

Publications and source records attributed to Sarah Andreas.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2013

Hidden Photons in connection to Dark Matter

Light extra U(1) gauge bosons, so called hidden photons, which reside in a hidden sector have attracted much attention since they are a well motivated feature of many scenarios beyond the Standard Model and furthermore could mediate the interaction with hidden sector dark matter. We review limits on hidden photons from past electron beam dump experiments including two new limits from such experiments at KEK and Orsay. In addition, we study the possibility of having dark matter in the hidden sector. A simple toy model and different supersymmetric realisations are shown to provide viable dark matter candidates in the hidden sector that are in agreement with recent direct detection limits.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2012

Hidden Photons in beam dump experiments and in connection with Dark Matter

Hidden sectors with light extra U(1) gauge bosons, so-called hidden photons, recently received much interest as natural feature of beyond standard model scenarios like string theory and SUSY and because of their possible connection to dark matter. This paper presents limits on hidden photons from past electron beam dump experiments including two new limits from experiments at KEK and Orsay. Additionally, various hidden sector models containing both a hidden photon and a dark matter candidate are discussed with respect to their viability and potential signatures in direct detection.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2012

Update on Hidden Sectors with Dark Forces and Dark Matter

Recently there has been much interest in hidden sectors, especially in the context of dark matter and dark forces, since they are a common feature of beyond standard model scenarios like string theory and SUSY and additionally exhibit interesting phenomenological aspects. Various laboratory experiments place limits on the so-called hidden photon and continuously further probe and constrain the parameter space; an updated overview is presented here. Furthermore, for several hidden sector models with light dark matter we study the viability with respect to the relic abundance and direct detection experiments.

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arXiv2012

Dark Forces and Dark Matter in a Hidden Sector

Hidden sectors in connection with GeV-scale dark forces and dark matter are not only a common feature of physics beyond the Standard Model such as string theory and SUSY but are also phenomenologically of great interest regarding recent astrophysical observations. The hidden photon in particular is also searched for and constrained by laboratory experiments, the current status of which will be presented here. Furthermore, several models of hidden sectors containing in addition a dark matter particle will be examined regarding their consistency with the dark matter relic abundance and direct detection experiments.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2012

New Limits on Hidden Photons from Past Electron Beam Dumps

Hidden sectors with light extra U(1) gauge bosons, so-called hidden photons, have recently attracted some attention because they are a common feature of physics beyond the Standard Model like string theory and supersymmetry and additionally are phenomenologically of great interest regarding recent astrophysical observations. The hidden photon is already constrained by various laboratory experiments and presently searched for in running as well as upcoming experiments. We summarize the current status of limits on hidden photons from past electron beam dump experiments including two new limits from such experiments at the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization in Japan (KEK) and the Laboratoire de l'accelerateur lineaire (LAL, Orsay) that have so far not been considered. All our limits take into account the experimental acceptances obtained from Monte Carlo simulations.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2010

Status of sub-GeV Hidden Particle Searches

Hidden sector particles with sub-GeV masses like hidden U(1) gauge bosons, the NMSSM CP-odd Higgs, and other axion-like particles are experimentally little constrained as they interact only very weakly with the visible sector. For masses below the muon threshold, we present constraints from meson decays, g - 2 as well as beam-dump and reactor experiments. The NMSSM CP-odd Higgs and generally any pseudoscalar is required to be heavier than 210 MeV or couple to fermions much weaker than the SM Higgs. Hidden photons are less constrained and can be searched for at future fixed-target experiments, e.g. HIPS at DESY.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2010

Constraints on a very light CP-odd Higgs of the NMSSM and other axion-like particles

In the NMSSM, a light CP-odd Higgs arises due to spontaneous breaking of approximate symmetries such as Peccei-Quinn or R-symmetry and is motivated by string theory. The case when it is heavier than two muons is well studied and constrained. We analyze various meson decay, g-2, beam dump and reactor bounds on the CP-odd Higgs with mass below the muon threshold, in particular, addressing the question how light a CP-odd Higgs can be. We find that it has to be heavier than 210 MeV or have couplings to fermions 4 orders of magnitude below those of the Standard Model Higgs. Our analysis applies more generally to couplings of a light pseudoscalar to matter.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2010

A light scalar WIMP through the Higgs portal and CoGeNT

If dark matter (DM) simply consists in a scalar particle interacting dominantly with the Higgs boson, the ratio of its annihilation cross section ---which is relevant both for the relic abundance and indirect detection--- and its spin-independent scattering cross section on nuclei depends only on the DM mass. It is an intriguing result that, fixing the mass and direct detection rate to fit the annual modulation observed by the DAMA experiment, one obtains a relic density in perfect agreement with its observed value. In this short letter we update this result and confront the model to the recent CoGeNT data, tentatively interpreting the excess of events in the recoil energy spectrum as being due to DM. CoGeNT, as DAMA, points toward a light DM candidate, with somewhat different (but not necessarily incompatible) masses and cross sections. For the CoGeNT region too, we find an intriguing agreement between the scalar DM relic density and direct detection constraints. We give the one $σ$ region favoured by the CDMS-II events, and our exclusion limits for the Xenon10 (2009) and Xenon100 data, which, depending on the scintillation efficiency, may exclude CoGeNT and DAMA. Assuming CoGeNT and/or DAMA to be due to scalar singlet DM leads to definite predictions regarding indirect detection and at colliders. We specifically emphasize the limit on the model that might be set by the current {\it Fermi}-LAT data on dwarf galaxies, and the implications for the search for the Higgs at the LHC.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2009

Neutrino signature of Inert Doublet Dark Matter

In the framework of the Inert Doublet Model and extensions, the signature of neutrinos from dark matter annihilation in the Earth, the Sun and at the Galactic centre is presented. The model contains an extra Higgs doublet, a neutral component of which is chosen as dark matter candidate. There are three distinct mass ranges for which consistency both with WMAP abundance and direct searches can be obtained: a low (4 - 8 GeV), a middle (60 - 70 GeV) and a high (500 - 1500 GeV) WIMP mass range. The first case is of interest as we showed that the model can at the same time give the correct WMAP abundance and account for the positive DAMA results without contradicting other direct searches. We present how capture in the Sun can further constrain this scenario using Super-Kamiokande data. Indirect detection through neutrinos is challenging for the middle and high mass ranges. For the former, the presence of the so-called 'iron resonance' gives rise to larger neutrino fluxes for WIMP masses around 60 - 70 GeV since capture by the Earth is enhanced. The addition of light right-handed Majorana neutrinos to the particle content of the model further increases the signal since it opens a direct annihilation channel into mono-energetic neutrinos. Neutrinos from the Galactic centre might be detected for heavy WIMPs if the dark matter density at the Galactic centre is substantially boosted.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2009

Scalar Dark Matter and DAMA

A light scalar WIMP is studied in view of the recent results of the DAMA collaboration. In a scenario where both the WIMP's annihilation and its elastic scattering on nuclei occur dominantly through Higgs exchange, a one-to-one relation between the WIMP's relic density and its spin-independent direct detection rate is established. The ratio of the relevant cross sections depends only on the dark matter mass if the range allowed by the DAMA results (m < 10 GeV) is considered. We show that if such a light scalar WIMP possesses a direct detection rate compatible with DAMA, it naturally obtains a relic abundance in agreement with WMAP. Indirect detection both with gammas from the Galactic centre and neutrinos from the Sun opens possibilities to test this light dark matter scenario.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2009

Neutrinos from Inert Doublet Dark Matter

We investigate the signatures of neutrinos produced in the annihilation of WIMP dark matter in the Earth, the Sun and at the Galactic centre within the framework of the Inert Doublet Model and extensions. We consider a dark matter candidate, that we take to be one of the neutral components of an extra Higgs doublet, in three distinct mass ranges, which have all been shown previously to be consistent with both WMAP abundance and direct detection experiments exclusion limits. Specifically, we consider a light WIMP with mass between 4 and 8 GeV (low), a WIMP with mass around 60-70 GeV (middle) and a heavy WIMP with mass above 500 GeV (high). In the first case, we show that capture in the Sun may be constrained using Super-Kamiokande data. In the last two cases, we argue that indirect detection through neutrinos is challenging but not altogether excluded. For middle masses, we try to make the most benefit of the proximity of the so-called 'iron resonance' that might enhance the capture of the dark matter candidate by the Earth. The signal from the Earth is further enhanced if light right-handed Majorana neutrinos are introduced, in which case the scalar dark matter candidate may annihilate into pairs of mono-energetic neutrinos. In the case of high masses, detection of neutrinos from the Galactic centre might be possible, provided the dark matter abundance is substantially boosted.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2008

WIMP dark matter, Higgs exchange and DAMA

In the WIMP scenario, there is a one-to-one relation between the dark matter (DM) relic density and spin independent direct detection rate if both the annihilation of DM and its elastic scattering on nuclei go dominantly through Higgs exchange. In particular, for DM masses much smaller than the Higgs boson mass, the ratio of the relevant cross sections depends only on the DM mass. Assuming DM mass and direct detection rate within the ranges allowed by the recent DAMA collaboration results -taking account of the channelling effect on energy threshold and the null results of the other direct detection experiments- gives a definite range for the relic density. For scalar DM models, like the Higgs portal models or the inert doublet model, the relic density range turns out to be in agreement with WMAP. This scenario implies that the Higgs boson has a large branching ratio to pairs of DM particles, a prediction which might challenge its search at the LHC.

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