Semi-Annihilation of Fermionic Dark Matter

TL;DR

This paper explores a semi-annihilation mechanism for fermionic dark matter within a Z3 symmetric effective field theory, addressing relic density and indirect detection constraints through gamma-ray observations and neutrino dynamics.

Contribution

It introduces a novel semi-annihilation model for fermionic dark matter with right-handed neutrinos, analyzing its relic density and detection prospects.

Findings

Semi-annihilation can reconcile relic density with non-observation in direct detection.

Gamma-ray bounds constrain semi-annihilation cross-sections.

Late decays of right-handed neutrinos impact dark matter relic abundance.

Abstract

The continued non-observation of events emanating from dark matter (DM) annihilations in various direct and indirect detection experiments calls into question the mechanism for determining the relic density of a weakly interacting massive particle. However, if the relic density is determined primarily by a semi-annihilation process, as opposed to the usual annihilation, this tension can be ameliorated. Here, we investigate a Z3 symmetric effective field theory incorporating a fermionic dark matter that semi-annihilates to right-handed neutrinos (RHN). The dynamics of the RHN and the impact of its late decays are also scrutinised while obtaining the correct DM relic. Finally, indirect detection bounds on the semi-annihilation cross-sections are drawn from the gamma-ray observations in the direction of Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxies (Fermi-LAT), and including the projections obtained for the H.E.S.S. and the CTA detectors.