Z-portal dark matter

TL;DR

This paper explores Z-portal dark matter models, showing current constraints limit the dark matter mass and coupling nature, and predicts detectable signals in upcoming experiments for masses up to 2 TeV.

Contribution

It generalizes Z-portal dark matter models, analyzes current experimental constraints, and predicts future testable signals, especially the spin-dependent neutron scattering cross section.

Findings

Current constraints set a lower limit of ~200 GeV on dark matter mass.

Next-generation experiments will test Z-portal models up to 2 TeV.

A specific spin-dependent neutron cross section of ~10^{-40} cm^2 is predicted.

Abstract

We propose to generalize the extensions of the Standard Model where the $Z$ boson serves as a mediator between the Standard Model sector and the dark sector $\chi$. We show that, like in the Higgs portal case, the combined constraints from the recent direct searches restrict severely the nature of the coupling of the dark matter to the $Z$ boson and set a limit $m_\chi \gtrsim 200$ GeV (except in a very narrow region around the $Z-$pole region). Using complementarity between spin dependent, spin independent and FERMI limits, we predict the nature of this coupling, more specifically the axial/vectorial ratio that respects a thermal dark matter coupled through a $Z$-portal while not being excluded by the current observations. We also show that the next generation of experiments of the type LZ or XENON1T will test Z-portal scenario for dark matter mass up to 2 TeV. The condition of a thermal dark matter naturally predicts the spin--dependent scattering cross section on the neutron to be $\sigma^{SD}_{\chi n} \simeq 10^{-40} \mrm{cm^2}$, which then becomes a clear prediction of the model and a signature testable in the near future experiments.