The Last Gasp of Dark Matter Effective Theory

TL;DR

This paper explores strongly coupled dark matter models that influence LHC missing energy signals, emphasizing the role of higher-derivative interactions in effective field theories and comparing collider constraints with relic and direct detection data.

Contribution

It introduces a novel EFT framework shaped by strong dynamics, highlighting the significance of higher-derivative interactions for dark matter searches at the LHC.

Findings

Higher-derivative interactions are crucial in the EFT description.

LHC constraints are comparable to relic and direct detection bounds.

A simplified parameter space effectively models MET signals.

Abstract

We discuss an interesting class of models, based on strongly coupled Dark Matter (DM), where sizable effects can be expected in LHC missing energy (MET) searches, compatibly with a large separation of scales. In this case, an effective field theory (EFT) is appropriate (and sometimes necessary) to describe the most relevant interactions at the LHC. The selection rules implied by the structure of the new strong dynamics shape the EFT in an unusual way, revealing the importance of higher-derivative interactions previously ignored. We compare indications from relic density and direct detection experiments with consistent LHC constraints, and asses the relative importance of the latter. Our analysis provides an interesting and well-motivated scenario to model MET at the LHC in terms of a handful of parameters.