Dark Matter "Collider" from Inelastic Boosted Dark Matter

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new detection method for non-minimal dark sector models involving inelastic scattering of boosted dark matter, leading to distinctive signals at large neutrino detectors.

Contribution

It proposes a novel inelastic scattering detection strategy for boosted dark matter involving a heavier dark sector state and secondary visible signatures.

Findings

Distinctive secondary cascade signatures identified

Detection prospects at large neutrino detectors analyzed

Kinematic features of inelastic boosted dark matter characterized

Abstract

We propose a novel dark matter (DM) detection strategy for the models with non-minimal dark sector. The main ingredients in the underlying DM scenario are a boosted DM particle and a heavier dark sector state. The relativistic DM impinged on target material scatters off inelastically to the heavier state which subsequently decays into DM along with lighter states including visible (Standard Model) particles. The expected signal event, therefore, accompanies a visible signature by the secondary cascade process associated with a recoiling of the target particle, differing from the typical neutrino signal not involving the secondary signature. We then discuss various kinematic features followed by DM detection prospects at large volume neutrino detectors with a model framework where a dark gauge boson is the mediator between the Standard Model particles and DM.