WIMPonium

TL;DR

This paper investigates the theoretical possibility of dark matter particles forming bound states called WIMPonium, analyzing their properties, production prospects at the LHC, and implications for understanding dark matter.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of WIMPonium in dark matter models, estimates their properties using analogies to heavy quarkonia, and discusses potential detection at the LHC.

Findings

WIMPonium states can form under certain conditions in dark matter models.

Estimates of WIMPonium properties are provided using NRQCD analogues.

Potential for WIMPonium detection at the LHC is discussed.

Abstract

We explore the possibility that weakly interacting dark matter can form bound states - WIMPonium. Such states are expected in a wide class of models of particle dark matter, including some limits of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model. We examine the conditions under which we expect bound states to occur, and use analogues of NRQCD applied to heavy quarkonia to provide estimates for their properties, including couplings to the Standard Model. We further find that it may be possible to produce WIMPonium at the LHC, and explore the properties of the WIMP that can be inferred from measurements of the WIMPonium states.