Cosmic Ray Positrons from Annihilations into a New, Heavy Lepton

TL;DR

This paper proposes a dark matter annihilation model involving a new heavy lepton to explain positron excesses observed by PAMELA, with potential detection signatures at colliders and neutrino observatories.

Contribution

It introduces a novel scenario where dark matter annihilates via a heavy lepton, linking astrophysical observations with collider and neutrino detection prospects.

Findings

Reproduces positron excess with new heavy lepton channel

Predicts collider signatures like multi-lepton events or long-lived tracks

Suggests neutrino line detection possibilities in large neutrino detectors

Abstract

Recent results from the PAMELA experiment indicate an excess in the positron spectrum above 10 GeV, but anti-proton data are consistent with the expected astrophysical backgrounds. We propose a scenario that reproduces these features. Dark matter annihilates through channels involving a new heavy vectorlike lepton which then decays by mixing with Standard Model leptons. If charged, this heavy lepton might be produced at the LHC, and could lead to multi-lepton final states or to long-lived charged tracks. Large neutrino detectors such as ANTARES or IceCube might be sensitive to a monochromatic neutrino line. This scenario may be simply embedded in various models, including an extension to the NMSSM.