Gopolang Mohlabeng

Direct detection of dark matter with MadDM v.2.0

Abstract We present MadDM v.2.0, a numerical tool for dark matter physics in a generic model. This version is the next step towards the development of a fully automated framework for dark matter searches at the interface of collider physics, astro-physics and cosmology. It extends the capabilities of v.1.0 to perform calculations relevant to the direct detection of dark matter. These include calculations of spin-independent/spin-dependent nucleon scattering cross sections and nuclear recoil rates (as a function of both energy and angle), as well as a simplified functionality to compare the model points with existing constraints. The functionality of MadDM v.2.0 incorporates a large selection of dark matter detector materials and sizes, and simulates detector effects on the nuclear recoil signals. We validate the code in a wide range of dark matter models by comparing results from MadDM v.2.0 to the existing tools and literature.

Boosted dark matter signals uplifted with self-interaction

a b s t r a c t We explore detection prospects of a non-standard dark sector in the context of boosted dark matter. We focus on a scenario with two dark matter particles of a large mass difference, where the heavier candidate is secluded and interacts with the standard model particles only at loops, escaping existing direct and indirect detection bounds. Yet its pair annihilation in the galactic center or in the Sun may produce boosted stable particles, which could be detected as visible Cherenkov light in large volume neutrino detectors. In such models with multiple candidates, self-interaction of dark matter particles is naturally utilized in the assisted freeze-out mechanism and is corroborated by various cosmological studies such as N-body simulations of structure formation, observations of dwarf galaxies, and the small scale problem. We show that self-interaction of the secluded (heavier) dark matter greatly enhances the capture rate in the Sun and results in promising signals at current and future experiments. We perform a detailed analysis of the boosted dark matter events for Super-Kamiokande, Hyper-Kamiokande and PINGU, including notable effects such as evaporation due to self-interaction and energy loss in the Sun.

The gamma-ray luminosity function of millisecond pulsars and implications for the GeV excess

It has been proposed that a large population of unresolved millisecond pulsars (MSPs) could potentially account for the excess of GeV-scale gamma-rays observed from the region surrounding the Galactic Center. The viability of this scenario depends critically on the gamma-ray luminosity function of this source population, which determines how many MSPs Fermi should have already detected as resolved point sources. In this paper, we revisit the gamma-ray luminosity function of MSPs, without relying on uncertain distance measurements. Our determination, based on a comparison of models with the observed characteristics of the MSP population, suggests that Fermi should have already detected a significant number of sources associated with such a hypothesized Inner Galaxy population. We cannot rule out a scenario in which the MSPs residing near the Galactic Center are systematically less luminous than those present in the Galactic Plane or within globular clusters.

A redshift-dependent colour–luminosity relation in Type 1a supernovae

Type 1a supernova magnitudes are used to fit cosmological parameters under the assumption the model will fit the observed redshift dependence. We test this assumption with the Union 2.1 compilation of 580 sources. Several independent tests find the existing model fails to account for a significant correlation of supernova color and redshift. The correlation of magnitude residuals relative to the

Multi-component dark matter through a radiative Higgs portal

\Lambda CDM

Boosted Dark Matter at the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment

model and

Probing TeV scale top-philic resonances with boosted top-tagging at the high luminosity LHC

color \times redshift

Dark matter directionality revisited with a high pressure xenon gas detector

has a significance equivalent to 13 standard deviations, as evaluated by randomly shuffling the data. Extending the existing

Electroweak Kaluza-Klein dark matter

B-V

MadDM: New dark matter tool in the LHC era

color correction to a relation linear in redshift improves the goodness of fit