Paolo Panci

PPPC 4 DM ID: A Poor Particle Physicist Cookbook for Dark Matter Indirect Detection

We correct a few mistakes of the original version of this work (notably related to the computations of extragalactic gamma rays), while at the same time improving and upgrading other aspects (notably as a consequence of the discovery of the higgs boson at the LHC). A brief list of the main changes is: - We include a higgs boson channel hh with mass mh = 125 GeV. All previous channels hmhm are removed. - We correct the formulae for the computation of extragalactic gamma rays (fixing in particular the redshift dependence) as well as the numerical computations (also including a corrected impact of absorption). - We provide a new version of the Optical Depth function, employing updated models of Extragalactic Background Light (EBL) and fixing the redshift dependence. All these corrections and updates are reflected on the numerical ingredients provided on the website; they correspond to Release 2.0.

Tools for model-independent bounds in direct dark matter searches

We discuss a framework (based on non-relativistic operators) and a self-contained set of numerical tools to derive the bounds from some current direct detection experiments on virtually any arbitrary model of Dark Matter elastically scattering on nuclei.

arXiv : Flavour anomalies after the

A bstractThe LHCb measurement of the μ/e ratio RK∗ indicates a deficit with respect to the Standard Model prediction, supporting earlier hints of lepton universality violation observed in the RK ratio. We show that the RK and RK∗ ratios alone constrain the chiralities of the states contributing to these anomalies, and we find deviations from the Standard Model at the 4σ level. This conclusion is further corroborated by hints from the theoretically challenging b → sμ+μ− distributions. Theoretical interpretations in terms of Z′, lepto-quarks, loop mediators, and composite dynamics are discussed. We highlight their distinctive features in terms of the chirality and flavour structures relevant to the observed anomalies.

R_{K^*}

We derive new bounds on decaying Dark Matter from the gamma ray measurements of (i) the isotropic residual (extragalactic) background by Fermi and (ii) the Fornax galaxy cluster by H.E.S.S.. We nd that those from (i) are among the most stringent constraints currently available, for a large range of DM masses and a variety of decay modes, excluding half-lives up to 10 26 to few 10 27 seconds. In particular, they rule out the interpretation in terms of decaying DM of the e spectral features in PAMELA, Fermi and H.E.S.S., unless very conservative choices are adopted. We also discuss future prospects for CTA bounds from Fornax which, contrary to the present H.E.S.S. constraints of (ii), may allow for an interesting improvement and may become better than those from the current or future extragalactic Fermi data.

measurement

A bstractThe LHCb measurement of the μ/e ratio RK∗ indicates a deficit with respect to the Standard Model prediction, supporting earlier hints of lepton universality violation observed in the RK ratio. We show that the RK and RK∗ ratios alone constrain the chiralities of the states contributing to these anomalies, and we find deviations from the Standard Model at the 4σ level. This conclusion is further corroborated by hints from the theoretically challenging b → sμ+μ− distributions. Theoretical interpretations in terms of Z′, lepto-quarks, loop mediators, and composite dynamics are discussed. We highlight their distinctive features in terms of the chirality and flavour structures relevant to the observed anomalies.

Gamma ray constraints on decaying dark matter

We reconsider the model of Minimal Dark Matter (a fermionic, hypercharge-less quintuplet of the EW interactions) and compute its gamma ray signatures. We compare them with a number of gamma ray probes: the galactic halo diffuse measurements, the galactic center line searches and recent dwarf galaxies observations. We find that the original minimal model, whose mass is fixed at 9.4 TeV by the relic abundance requirement, is constrained by the line searches from the Galactic Center: it is ruled out if the Milky Way possesses a cuspy profile such as NFW but it is still allowed if it has a cored one. Observations of dwarf spheroidal galaxies are also relevant (in particular searches for lines), and ongoing astrophysical progresses on these systems have the potential to eventually rule out the model. We also explore a wider mass range, which applies to the case in which the relic abundance requirement is relaxed. Most of our results can be safely extended to the larger class of multi-TeV WIMP DM annihilating into massive gauge bosons.

Flavour anomalies after the R-K* measurement

A bstractWe study the effective field theory obtained by extending the Standard Model field content with two singlets: a 750 GeV (pseudo-)scalar and a stable fermion. Accounting for collider productions initiated by both gluon and photon fusion, we investigate where the theory is consistent with both the LHC diphoton excess and bounds from Run 1. We analyze dark matter phenomenology in such regions, including relic density constraints as well as collider, direct, and indirect bounds. Scalar portal dark matter models are very close to limits from direct detection and mono-jet searches if gluon fusion dominates, and not constrained at all otherwise. Pseudo-scalar models are challenged by photon line limits and mono-jet searches in most of the parameter space.

Gamma ray tests of Minimal Dark Matter

A bstractWe study direct detection in simplified models of Dark Matter (DM) in which interactions with Standard Model (SM) fermions are mediated by a heavy vector boson. We consider fully general, gauge-invariant couplings between the SM, the mediator and both scalar and fermion DM. We account for the evolution of the couplings between the energy scale of the mediator mass and the nuclear energy scale. This running arises from virtual effects of SM particles and its inclusion is not optional. We compare bounds on the mediator mass from direct detection experiments with and without accounting for the running. In some cases the inclusion of these effects changes the bounds by several orders of magnitude, as a consequence of operator mixing which generates new interactions at low energy. We also highlight the importance of these effects when translating LHC limits on the mediator mass into bounds on the direct detection cross section. For an axial-vector mediator, the running can alter the derived bounds on the spin-dependent DM-nucleon cross section by a factor of two or more. Finally, we provide tools to facilitate the inclusion of these effects in future studies: general approximate expressions for the low energy couplings and a public code runDM to evolve the couplings between arbitrary energy scales.

A 750 GeV portal: LHC phenomenology and dark matter candidates

Assuming the existence of a primordial asymmetry in the dark sector, a scenario usually dubbed Asymmetric Dark Matter (aDM), we study the effect of oscillations between dark matter and its antiparticle on the re-equilibration of the initial asymmetry before freeze-out, which enable efficient annihilations to recouple. We calculate the evolution of the DM relic abundance and show how oscillations re-open the parameter space of aDM models, in particular in the direction of allowing large (WIMP-scale) DM masses. A typical WIMP with a mass at the EW scale ( ~ 100 GeV ? 1 TeV) presenting a primordial asymmetry of the same order as the baryon asymmetry naturally gets the correct relic abundance if the DM-number-violating ?(DM) = 2 mass term is in the ~ meV range. The re-establishment of annihilations implies that constraints from the accumulation of aDM in astrophysical bodies are evaded. On the other hand, the ordinary bounds from BBN, CMB and indirect detection signals on annihilating DM have to be considered.

You can hide but you have to run: direct detection with vector mediators

Dark matter (DM) charged under a dark U(1) force appears in many extensions of the Standard Model, and has been invoked to explain anomalies in cosmic-ray data, as well as a self-interacting DM candidate. In this paper, we perform a comprehensive phenomenological analysis of such a model, assuming that the DM abundance arises from the thermal freeze-out of the dark interactions. We include, for the first time, bound-state effects both in the DM production and in the indirect detection signals, and quantify their importance for Fermi, AMS, and CMB experiments. We find that DM in the mass range 1 GeV to 100 TeV, annihilating into dark photons of MeV to GeV mass, is in conflict with observations. Instead, DM annihilation into heavier dark photons is viable. We point out that the late decays of multi-GeV dark photons can produce significant entropy and thus dilute the DM density. This can lower considerably the dark coupling needed to obtain the DM abundance, and in turn relax the existing constraints.