Properties of Q-ball dark matter: moving away from flat directions

TL;DR

This paper investigates the evolution of Q-balls in supersymmetric models, revealing they deviate from flat directions and can acquire electric charge, impacting dark matter detection strategies.

Contribution

It demonstrates that stable Q-balls formed from flat directions evolve away from these directions and can become electrically charged, a novel insight into their properties.

Findings

Q-balls evolve away from flat directions after formation

Charged (B+L)-balls can result from this evolution

Implications for experimental detection of Q-ball dark matter

Abstract

Gauge-mediated models of supersymmetry-breaking imply that stable Q-balls can form in the early universe and act as dark matter. All stable Q-balls in the MSSM are associated with one or more flat directions. We show that while Q-balls are produced from the fragmentation of a flat direction condensate, they quickly evolve to a ground state that is slightly away from this flat direction. In this process a (B+L)-ball can become electrically charged. This is a novel form of charge acquisition with important ramifications for the experimental search for Q-ball dark matter.