Constraining the Axion Portal with B -> K l+ l-

TL;DR

This paper derives constraints on axionlike particles from B meson decays, showing that current data restricts the axion decay constant to multi-TeV scales, impacting dark matter models and light Higgs scenarios.

Contribution

It provides the first comprehensive bounds on GeV-scale axions from flavor-changing B decays, linking flavor physics to dark matter and Higgs phenomenology.

Findings

Existing B->K l+ l- data impose multi-TeV bounds on axion decay constant.

Bounds constrain axion portal models of dark matter.

Results impact light Higgs scenarios in supersymmetry.

Abstract

We investigate the bounds on axionlike states from flavor-changing neutral current b->s decays, assuming the axion couples to the standard model through mixing with the Higgs sector. Such GeV-scale axions have received renewed attention in connection with observed cosmic ray excesses. We find that existing B->K l+ l- data impose stringent bounds on the axion decay constant in the multi-TeV range, relevant for constraining the "axion portal" model of dark matter. Such bounds also constrain light Higgs scenarios in the next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model. These bounds can be improved by dedicated searches in B-factory data and at LHCb.