Dark matter physics in neutrino specific two Higgs doublet model

TL;DR

This paper proposes a neutrino-specific two Higgs doublet model that explains small neutrino masses and dark matter stability through a global symmetry, with distinctive phenomenological predictions for relic density and detection experiments.

Contribution

It introduces a novel model linking neutrino mass generation and dark matter stability via a global $U(1)_X$ symmetry and spontaneous symmetry breaking.

Findings

Dark matter relic density can be achieved via Goldstone boson or resonance channels.

Direct detection signals are suppressed below current experimental bounds.

Model predictions can be tested in indirect detection and neutrinoless double beta decay experiments.

Abstract

Although the seesaw mechanism is a natural explanation for the small neutrino masses, there are cases when the Majorana mass terms for the right-handed neutrinos are not allowed due to symmetry. In that case, if neutrino-specific Higgs doublet is introduced, neutrinos become Dirac particles and their small masses can be explained by its small VEV. We show that the same symmetry, which we assume a global $U(1)_X$, can also be used to explain the stability of dark matter. In our model, a new singlet scalar breaks the global symmetry spontaneously down to a discrete $Z_2$ symmetry. The dark matter particle, lightest $Z_2$-odd fermion, is stabilized. We discuss the phenomenology of dark matter: relic density, direct detection, and indirect detection. We find that the relic density can be explained by a novel Goldstone boson channel or by resonance channel. In the most region of parameter space considered, the direct detections is suppressed well below the current experimental bound. Our model can be further tested in indirect detection experiments such as FermiLAT gamma ray searches or neutrinoless double beta decay experiments.