Simplified SIMPs and the LHC

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential for detecting Strongly Interacting Massive Particles (SIMPs) as dark matter candidates at the LHC, proposing a novel neutral, trackless jet signature to improve detection sensitivity.

Contribution

It introduces a simplified SIMP model and a detailed feasibility study demonstrating how neutral, trackless jets can enhance LHC detection capabilities for SIMPs.

Findings

Neutral, trackless jets can suppress background signals effectively.

The study estimates sensitivity and exclusion limits for SIMP detection at the LHC.

Abstract

The existence of Dark Matter (DM) in the form of Strongly Interacting Massive Particles (SIMPs) may be motivated by astrophysical observations that challenge the classical Cold DM scenario. Other observations greatly constrain, but do not completely exclude, the SIMP alternative. The signature of SIMPs at the LHC may consist of neutral, hadron-like, trackless jets produced in pairs. We show that the absence of charged content can provide a very efficient tool to suppress dijet backgrounds at the LHC, thus enhancing the sensitivity to a potential SIMP signal. We illustrate this using a simplified SIMP model and present a detailed feasibility study based on simulations, including a dedicated detector response parametrization. We evaluate the expected sensitivity to various signal scenarios and tentatively consider the exclusion limits on the SIMP elastic cross section with nucleons.