Hidden sector dark matter explains the DAMA, CoGeNT, CRESST-II and CDMS/Si experiments

TL;DR

This paper proposes a multi-component hidden sector dark matter model with kinetic mixing that can simultaneously explain several direct detection experiment results, despite some tension with XENON100 data.

Contribution

It introduces a simple two-particle hidden sector dark matter model with kinetic mixing capable of explaining multiple experimental signals.

Findings

The model fits DAMA, CoGeNT, CRESST-II, and CDMS/Si data.

There is some tension with XENON100 results.

The model provides a unified explanation for diverse experimental signals.

Abstract

We examine data from the DAMA, CoGeNT, CRESST-II and CDMS/Si direct detection experiments in the context of multi-component hidden sector dark matter. The models considered feature a hidden sector with two or more stable particles charged under an unbroken $U(1)'$ gauge interaction. The new gauge field can interact with the standard $U(1)_Y$ via renormalizable kinetic mixing, leading to Rutherford-type elastic scattering of the dark matter particles off ordinary nuclei. We consider the simplest generic model of this type, with a hidden sector composed of two stable particles, $F_1$ and $F_2$. We find that this simple model can simultaneously explain the DAMA, CoGeNT, CRESST-II and CDMS/Si data. This explanation has some tension with the most recent results from the XENON100 experiment.