A Minimal Model of Majoronic Dark Radiation and Dark Matter

TL;DR

This paper proposes an extended Majoron model linking dark radiation, dark matter, and neutrino mass generation, predicting new light scalars, rare Higgs decays, and constraining the seesaw scale to 1-100 TeV.

Contribution

It introduces a minimal extension of the Majoron model with a new singlet scalar, connecting dark radiation with neutrino masses and predicting observable collider signatures.

Findings

Model can account for dark matter relic abundance.

Predicts a light scalar < 1 GeV mixing with the Higgs.

Suggests the seesaw scale is between 1 and 100 TeV.

Abstract

We extend the singlet Majoron model of dark radiation by adding another singlet scalar of unit lepton charge. The spontaneous breaking of global $U(1)_L$ connects dark radiation with neutrino mass generation via the type-I seesaw mechanism. The model naturally has a stable scalar dark matter field. It also predicts the existence of a light scalar of mass less than 1 GeV that mixes with the Standard Model Higgs boson. We perform a numerical analysis of the parameters of the model by imposing constraints from giving correct relic abundance and satisfying bounds from direct dark matter detection, rare decays of B-meson, and invisible width of the Higgs boson. The viability of the model in accommodating the gamma rays from the Galactic center is discussed as well. The model gives rise to new rare Higgs boson decays such as four-muon final states with displaced vertices. Another unique signal is two muons and missing energy recoil against the muon pair. Our result also shows that such a bridge between dark radiation and the seesaw mechanism will put the seesaw scale in the range of 1-100 TeV.