Implications of LHC searches for Higgs--portal dark matter

TL;DR

This paper examines how LHC Higgs search results constrain Higgs portal dark matter models, showing that current data exclude certain light fermionic, scalar, and vector dark matter candidates, with future experiments potentially observing these particles.

Contribution

It provides a model-independent analysis of LHC Higgs search implications for various Higgs portal dark matter models, highlighting current experimental exclusions.

Findings

Fermionic dark matter and light scalar/vector particles below 50 GeV are excluded by current data.

Current LHC and XENON results strongly constrain Higgs portal dark matter models.

Future XENON upgrades and collider searches could detect remaining viable dark matter candidates.

Abstract

The search for the a Standard Model Higgs boson at the LHC is reaching a critical stage as the possible mass range for the particle has become extremely narrow and some signal at a mass of about 125 GeV is starting to emerge. We study the implications of these LHC Higgs searches for Higgs portal models of dark matter in a rather model independent way. Their impact on the cosmological relic density and on the direct detection rates are studied in the context of generic scalar, vector and fermionic thermal dark matter particles. Assuming a sufficiently small invisible Higgs decay branching ratio, we find that current data, in particular from the XENON experiment, essentially exclude fermionic dark matter as well as light, i.e. with masses below 50 GeV, scalar and vector dark matter particles. Possible observation of these particles at the planned upgrade of the XENON experiment as well in collider searches is discussed.