Strongly Interacting Dark Matter from $Sp(4)$ Gauge Theory

TL;DR

This paper investigates a specific $Sp(4)$ gauge theory as a candidate for strongly-interacting dark matter, analyzing its mesonic spectrum and effective theory to understand its potential role in dark matter relic abundance.

Contribution

It provides the first lattice results for the mesonic spectrum of $Sp(4)$ gauge theory with two Dirac fermions, and constructs a low-energy effective theory for dark pions.

Findings

Lattice results for pseudoscalar and vector mesons in $Sp(4)$ gauge theory.

Development of a low-energy effective theory for dark pions.

Insights into the mesonic multiplets for degenerate and non-degenerate fermions.

Abstract

The stable hadronic bound states in a hidden new non-Abelian gauge sector provide interesting candidates for strongly-interacting Dark Matter (DM). A particular example are theories in which DM is made up of dark pions which set the DM relic abundance through self-annihilation. One of the simplest realizations is $Sp(4)_c$ gauge theory with two Dirac fermions. We discuss its mesonic multiplets for degenerate and non-degenerate fermions, construct a low-energy effective theory and present lattice results for the pseudoscalar mesons and vector mesons.