A Framework to Simultaneously Explain Tiny Neutrino Mass and Huge Missing Mass Problem of the Universe

TL;DR

This paper presents a minimalistic framework that simultaneously explains tiny neutrino masses and the universe's missing mass through a new scalar called SLIM, which also accounts for dark matter.

Contribution

It introduces a unified scenario where a new scalar explains both neutrino masses and dark matter, with testable predictions for particle masses and couplings.

Findings

Upper bound of a few MeV on new particle masses for real SLIM

Lower bound on couplings making the scenario testable

Potential observable effects in charged Kaon decay experiments

Abstract

Recently a minimalistic scenario has been developed to explain dark matter and tiny but nonzero neutrino masses. In this scenario, a new scalar called SLIM plays the role of the dark matter. Neutrinos achieve Majorana mass through a one-loop diagram. This scenario can be realized for both real and complex SLIM. Simultaneously explaining the neutrino mass and dark matter abundance constrains the scenario. In particular for real SLIM, an upper bound of a few MeV on the masses of the new particles and a lower bound on their coupling are obtained which make the scenario testable. The low energy scenario can be embedded within various $SU(2)\times U(1)$ symmetric models. I shall briefly review the scenario and a specific model that embeds the scenario, with special emphasis on the effects in the charged Kaon decay which might be observable at the KLOE and NA62 experiments.