Dark Nuclei II: Nuclear Spectroscopy in Two-Colour QCD

TL;DR

This study uses lattice field theory to explore nuclear spectroscopy in two-colour QCD with two quark flavors, revealing bound states analogous to nuclei and estimating their scalar couplings, relevant for dark matter models.

Contribution

It provides the first lattice evidence of bound multi-baryon states in two-colour QCD and estimates their sigma-terms, advancing understanding of composite dark matter.

Findings

Bound states found in J=1, B=2,3 sectors

Estimated sigma-terms for single baryons

Evidence supporting nuclear-like structures in two-colour QCD

Abstract

We consider two-colour QCD with two flavours of quarks as a possible theory of composite dark matter and use lattice field theory methods to investigate nuclear spectroscopy in the spin $J=0$ and $J=1$ multi-baryon sectors. We find compelling evidence that $J=1$ systems with baryon number $B=2,3$ (and their mixed meson-baryon counterparts) are bound states - the analogues of nuclei in this theory. In addition, we estimate the $\sigma$-terms of the $J=0$ and $J=1$ single baryon states which are important for the coupling of the theory to scalar currents that may mediate interactions with the visible sector.