Global constraints on vector-like WIMP effective interactions

TL;DR

This paper combines multiple astrophysical and collider data sources to constrain vector-like effective interactions between Dark Matter and Standard Model particles, revealing mass and coupling limitations.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive, model-independent analysis of Dark Matter interactions using diverse observational data sets.

Findings

Dark Matter masses below 20 GeV are disfavoured at 3 sigma

Large couplings are only allowed in specific combinations avoiding direct detection constraints

Relic abundance and experimental constraints jointly restrict interaction parameter space

Abstract

In this work we combine information from relic abundance, direct detection, cosmic microwave background, positron fraction, gamma rays, and colliders to explore the existing constraints on couplings between Dark Matter and Standard Model constituents when no underlying model or correlation is assumed. For definiteness, we include independent vector-like effective interactions for each Standard Model fermion. Our results show that low Dark Matter masses below 20 GeV are disfavoured at the $3 \sigma$ level with respect to higher masses, due to the tension between the relic abundance requirement and upper constraints on the Dark Matter couplings. Furthermore, large couplings are typically only allowed in combinations which avoid effective couplings to the nuclei used in direct detection experiments.