TeV Scale Singlet Dark Matter

TL;DR

This paper explores TeV-scale scalar dark matter with strong couplings, analyzing its interactions, potential detection signals in high-energy photons and positrons, and its compatibility with existing experimental data.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed study of TeV-mass scalar dark matter, including interactions and detection prospects, especially considering higher-dimensional operators from strong coupling scenarios.

Findings

Potential detection in high-energy photon signals depends on dark matter distribution.

Positron detection at lower energies is challenging, but higher-energy signals could be observable.

TeV-scale dark matter with higher-dimensional interactions can match PAMELA positron data.

Abstract

It is well known that stable weak scale particles are viable dark matter candidates since the annihilation cross section is naturally about the right magnitude to leave the correct thermal residual abundance. Many dark matter searches have focused on relatively light dark matter consistent with weak couplings to the Standard Model. However, in a strongly coupled theory, or even if the coupling is just a few times bigger than the Standard Model couplings, dark matter can have TeV-scale mass with the correct thermal relic abundance. Here we consider neutral TeV-mass scalar dark matter, its necessary interactions, and potential signals. We consider signals both with and without higher-dimension operators generated by strong coupling at the TeV scale, as might happen for example in an RS scenario. We find some potential for detection in high energy photons that depends on the dark matter distribution. Detection in positrons at lower energies, such as those PAMELA probes, would be difficult though a higher energy positron signal could in principle be detectable over background. However, a light dark matter particle with higher-dimensional interactions consistent with a TeV cutoff can in principle match PAMELA data.