Dark Matter Detection in Focus Point Supersymmetry

TL;DR

This paper evaluates the detectability of neutralino dark matter in focus point supersymmetry models, showing that current and future experiments can effectively probe these scenarios.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of dark matter detection prospects in focus point supersymmetry, including updated Higgs mass calculations and implications for direct and indirect detection.

Findings

Direct detection constraints do not exclude these models.

Predicted signals are just beyond current experimental bounds.

IceCube neutrino constraints are competitive with direct detection.

Abstract

We determine the prospects for direct and indirect detection of thermal relic neutralinos in supersymmetric theories with multi-TeV squarks and sleptons. We consider the concrete example of the focus point region of minimal supergravity, but our results are generically valid for all models with decoupled scalars and mixed Bino-Higgsino or Higgsino-like dark matter. We determine the parameter space consistent with a 125 GeV Higgs boson including 3-loop corrections in the calculation of the Higgs mass. These corrections increase m_h by 1-3 GeV, lowering the preferred scalar mass scale and decreasing the fine-tuning measure in these scenarios. We then systematically examine prospects for dark matter direct and indirect detection. Direct detection constraints do not exclude these models, especially for \mu < 0. At the same time, the scenario generically predicts spin-independent signals just beyond current bounds. We also consider indirect detection with neutrinos, gamma rays, anti-protons, and anti-deuterons. Current IceCube neutrino constraints are competitive with direct detection, implying bright prospects for complementary searches with both direct and indirect detection.