NMSSM neutralino dark matter

TL;DR

This paper investigates the potential of the lightest neutralino in the NMSSM as a viable dark matter candidate, analyzing parameter space constraints and detection prospects considering current experimental bounds.

Contribution

It identifies specific NMSSM parameter regions where neutralino detection is feasible due to light singlet-like Higgses and neutralinos, advancing dark matter detection strategies.

Findings

Detection cross section within reach of current detectors.

Light singlet-like Higgses enhance detection prospects.

Neutralino composition influences detection likelihood.

Abstract

We study the viability of the lightest neutralino as a dark matter candidate in the Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model. Taking into account accelerator constraints as well as bounds on low-energy observables, and imposing consistency with present bounds on the neutralino relic density, we address the prospects for the direct detection of neutralino dark matter. We find regions of the allowed parameter space where the neutralino detection cross section is within the reach of dark matter detectors, essentially owing to the presence of very light singlet-like Higgses, and to either singlino dominated or very light neutralinos.