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Ardu, M., Hossain Rahat, M., Valori, N., & Vives, O. (2024). Electric Dipole Moments as indirect probes of dark sectors. J. High Energy Phys., 11(11), 049–25pp.
Abstract: Dark sectors provide beyond Standard Model scenarios which can address unresolved puzzles, such as the observed dark matter abundance or the baryon asymmetry of the Universe. A naturally small portal to the dark sector is obtained if dark-sector interactions stem from a non-Abelian hidden gauge group that couples through kinetic mixing with the hypercharge boson. In this work, we investigate the phenomenology of such a portal of dimension five in the presence of CP violation, focusing on its signatures in fermion electric dipole moments. We show that, currently unbounded regions of the parameter space from dark photon searches can be indirectly probed with upcoming electron dipole moment experiments for dark boson masses in the range 1 – 100 GeV. We also discuss two particular scenarios where a SU(2)D dark gauge group spontaneously breaks into either an Abelian U(1)D or nothing. In both cases, we show that potentially observable electron dipole moments can be produced in vast regions of the parameter space compatible with current experimental constraints and observed dark matter abundance.
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Bas i Beneito, A., Herrero-Garcia, J., & Vatsyayan, D. (2022). Multi-component dark sectors: symmetries, asymmetries and conversions. J. High Energy Phys., 10(10), 075–31pp.
Abstract: We study the relic abundance of several stable particles from a generic dark sector, including the possible presence of dark asymmetries. After discussing the different possibilities for stabilising multi-component dark matter, we analyse the final relic abundance of the symmetric and asymmetric dark matter components, paying special attention to the role of the unavoidable conversions between dark matter states. We find an exponential dependence of the asymmetries of the heavier components on annihilations and conversions. We conclude that having similar symmetric and asymmetric components is a natural outcome in many scenarios of multi-component dark matter. This has novel phenomenological implications, which we briefly discuss.
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Bauer, M., Perez-Soler, J., & Shergold, J. D. (2024). Generalised hydrogen interactions with CINCO: a window to new physics. J. High Energy Phys., 10(10), 176–26pp.
Abstract: We present semi-analytic solutions for atomic transition rates in hydrogenic atoms induced by scalar, pseudoscalar, vector, axial-vector, and tensor interactions. Our results agree with quantum electrodynamics predictions to similar to 0.005 % precision, and further allow us to calculate absorption and emission rates for axions, hidden photons, light scalars or other dark matter candidates for hydrogen and hydrogenic ions. These results can be used to inform searches for light new physics as well as in calculations relevant to searches for fifth forces or varying fundamental constants, with applications from astrophysics to laboratory spectroscopy experiments. We also provide a dedicated tool for the construction of hydrogenic transition amplitudes: “Computation of hydrogen radial INtegrals and COefficients” (CINCO).
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Berbig, M. (2026). Type II Seesaw Leptogenesis in a Majoron background. J. High Energy Phys., 04(4), 116–65pp.
Abstract: We discuss spontaneous Leptogenesis in the Type II Seesaw model of neutrino masses featuring an electroweak triplet scalar T in a coherent pseudo Nambu-Goldstone boson (pNGB) background. In the “wash-in” scenario the inverse decays of Higgs bosons to T generate a chemical potential for the triplet, that is then transmitted to the lepton sector via the leptonic decays of T. Our mechanism works with a single triplet, that can be as light as 1 TeV, and has a vacuum expectation value VT in the window O (1 keV) < vT < O (1 MeV). This range of VT can lead to appreciable decays of the triplet's doubly charged component into both same sign di-leptons and same sign pairs of W-bosons, which could potentially allow for an experimental distinction from a recently proposed inflationary Type II Seesaw Affleck-Dine scenario preferring the leptonic mode. In the “singlet-doublet-triplet Majoron” UV-completion of the Type II Seesaw model, the required pNGB is automatically included in the form of the Majoron, that originates from the phase of the lepton number breaking singlet scalar. The coherent motion of the Majoron can furthermore explain the dark matter relic abundance via the kinetic misalignment mechanism. Cogenesis of dark matter and the baryon asymmetry can work for a lepton number breaking scale of O(10(5) GeV) < v(sigma) < O(10(8) GeV) and a Majoron mass of O(1 eV) > m(j )> O (1 & micro;eV).
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Centelles Chulia, S., Cepedello, R., & Medina, O. (2022). Absolute neutrino mass scale and dark matter stability from flavour symmetry. J. High Energy Phys., 10(10), 080–23pp.
Abstract: We explore a simple but extremely predictive extension of the scotogenic model. We promote the scotogenic symmetry Z(2) to the flavour non-Abelian symmetry sigma(81), which can also automatically protect dark matter stability. In addition, sigma(81) leads to striking predictions in the lepton sector: only Inverted Ordering is realised, the absolute neutrino mass scale is predicted to be m(lightest)approximate to 7.5x10(-4) eV and the Majorana phases are correlated in such a way that vertical bar m(ee)vertical bar approximate to 0.018 eV. The model also leads to a strong correlation between the solar mixing angle theta(12) and delta(CP), which may be falsified by the next generation of neutrino oscillation experiments. The setup is minimal in the sense that no additional symmetries or flavons are required.
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Coito, L., Faubel, C., Herrero-Garcia, J., Santamaria, A., & Titov, A. (2022). Sterile neutrino portals to Majorana dark matter: effective operators and UV completions. J. High Energy Phys., 08(8), 085–36pp.
Abstract: Stringent constraints on the interactions of dark matter with the Standard Model suggest that dark matter does not take part in gauge interactions. In this regard, the possibility of communicating between the visible and dark sectors via gauge singlets seems rather natural. We consider a framework where the dark matter talks to the Standard Model through its coupling to sterile neutrinos, which generate active neutrino masses. We focus on the case of Majorana dark matter, with its relic abundance set by thermal freeze-out through annihilations into sterile neutrinos. We use an effective field theory approach to study the possible sterile neutrino portals to dark matter. We find that both lepton-number-conserving and lepton-number-violating operators are possible, yielding an interesting connection with the Dirac/Majorana character of active neutrinos. In a second step, we open the different operators and outline the possible renormalisable models. We analyse the phenomenology of the most promising ones, including a particular case in which the Majorana mass of the sterile neutrinos is generated radiatively.
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Dalla Valle Garcia, G., Herrero-Garcia, J., Jones-Perez, J., & Silva-Malpartida, J. (2026). Opening the parameter space of sub-GeV inelastic dark matter through parity violation. J. High Energy Phys., 04(4), 057–44pp.
Abstract: Sub-GeV dark matter (DM) has emerged as a particularly compelling target in light of the persistent null results from conventional DM searches. While s-wave annihilating DM candidates with masses below the GeV are strongly constrained by indirect-detection bounds, inelastic scenarios can naturally evade these limits. In this work, we show that parity violation can play an important role in inelastic DM models featuring long-lived excited states by inducing small diagonal couplings that significantly relax experimental constraints. A precise determination of the excited-state abundance is essential for assessing the phenomenology of such models. To this end, we solve the integrated Boltzmann equation, fully accounting for up- and down-scattering with electrons and positrons as well as dark-sector conversion processes. Using the resulting abundance, we update the viable parameter space in light of the most recent experimental constraints and demonstrate that parity-violating interactions can reopen broad regions of parameter space that would otherwise be excluded. Moreover, the forthcoming LDMX experiment will probe a significant portion of the parameter space. The framework developed in this work can be readily applied to other exothermic sub-GeV DM scenarios.
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Garcia-Barcelo, J. M., Diaz-Morcillo, A., & Gimeno, B. (2023). Enhancing resonant circular-section haloscopes for dark matter axion detection: approaches and limitations in volume expansion. J. High Energy Phys., 11(11), 159–30pp.
Abstract: Haloscopes, microwave resonant cavities utilized in detecting dark matter axions within powerful static magnetic fields, are pivotal in modern astrophysical research. This paper delves into the realm of cylindrical geometries, investigating techniques to augment volume and enhance compatibility with dipole or solenoid magnets. The study explores volume constraints in two categories of haloscope designs: those reliant on single cavities and those employing multicavities. In both categories, strategies to increase the expanse of elongated structures are elucidated. For multicavities, the optimization of space within magnets is explored through 1D configurations. Three subcavity stacking approaches are investigated, while the foray into 2D and 3D geometries lays the groundwork for future topological developments. The results underscore the efficacy of these methods, revealing substantial room for progress in cylindrical haloscope design. Notably, an elongated single cavity design attains a three-order magnitude increase in volume compared to a WC-109 standard waveguide-based single cavity. Diverse prototypes featuring single cavities, 1D, 2D, and 3D multicavities highlight the feasibility of leveraging these geometries to magnify the volume of tangible haloscope implementations.
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Garcia-Barcelo, J. M., Melcon, A. A., Diaz-Morcillo, A., Gimeno, B., Lozano-Guerrero, A. J., Monzi-Cabrera, J., et al. (2023). Methods and restrictions to increase the volume of resonant rectangular-section haloscopes for detecting dark matter axions. J. High Energy Phys., 08(8), 098–37pp.
Abstract: Haloscopes are resonant cavities that serve as detectors of dark matter axions when they are immersed in a strong static magnetic field. In order to increase the volume and improve space compatibility with dipole or solenoid magnets for axion searches, various haloscope design techniques for rectangular geometries are discussed in this study. The volume limits of two types of haloscopes are explored: those based on single cavities and those based on multicavities. In both cases, possibilities for increasing the volume of long and/or tall structures are presented. For multicavities, 1D geometries are explored to optimise the space in the magnets. Also, 2D and 3D geometries are introduced as a first step in laying the foundations for the development of these kinds of topologies. The results prove the usefulness of the developed methods, evidencing the ample room for improvement in rectangular haloscope designs nowadays. A factor of three orders of magnitude improvement in volume compared with a single cavity based on the WR-90 standard waveguide is obtained with the design of a long and tall single cavity. Similar procedures have been applied for long and tall multicavities. Experimental measurements are shown for prototypes based on tall multicavities and 2D structures, demonstrating the feasibility of using these types of geometries to increase the volume of real haloscopes.
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Garcia-Cely, C., Landini, G., Marsili, L., & Zapata, O. (2026). Pion dark matter in a θ vacuum: a thermal relic with sharp velocity-dependent self-interactions. J. High Energy Phys., 02(2), 105–32pp.
Abstract: As recently proposed, a non-vanishing topological angle may play a central role in QCD-like theories of dark matter (DM). In this work, we introduce a dark photon portal to the Standard Model in order to establish thermal equilibrium in the early Universe, and discuss the ensuing phenomenological constraints, including the stability of DM. accounts for the observed DM relic abundance and yields velocity-dependent DM self-interactions in astrophysical halos. Due to the sharp velocity dependence arising from a Breit-Wigner resonance, dedicated studies are required to assess the gravothermal evolution in detail, especially in the core-collapse regime. This is particularly timely in light of self-interacting DM interpretations of strong-lensing systems such as SDSS J0946+1006, which can be naturally explained within our framework.
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