Prospects for the direct detection of neutralino dark matter in orbifold scenarios

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential for detecting neutralino dark matter in orbifold models derived from heterotic superstring theory, highlighting how D-term contributions enhance detection prospects within experimental reach.

Contribution

It introduces the impact of D-term contributions from anomalous U(1) symmetries on soft terms, expanding the parameter space for neutralino detection in orbifold scenarios.

Findings

Large neutralino-proton cross sections are achievable with D-term contributions.

Allowed parameter regions can produce detectable signals in upcoming dark matter experiments.

D-terms help avoid charge and color breaking minima, ensuring viable models.

Abstract

We analyse the phenomenology of orbifold scenarios from the heterotic superstring, and the resulting theoretical predictions for the direct detection of neutralino dark matter. In particular, we study the parameter space of these constructions, computing the low-energy spectrum and taking into account the most recent experimental and astrophysical constraints, as well as imposing the absence of dangerous charge and colour breaking minima. In the remaining allowed regions the spin-independent part of the neutralino-proton cross section is calculated and compared with the sensitivity of dark matter detectors. In addition to the usual non universalities of the soft terms in orbifold scenarios due to the modular weight dependence, we also consider D-term contributions to scalar masses. These are generated by the presence of an anomalous U(1), providing more flexibility in the resulting soft terms, and are crucial in order to avoid charge and colour breaking minima. Thanks to the D-term contribution, large neutralino detection cross sections can be found, within the reach of projected dark matter detectors.