Loop enhancement of direct detection cross section in a fermionic dark matter model

TL;DR

This paper studies how one-loop quantum corrections can significantly alter the direct detection prospects of fermionic dark matter models, potentially making some regions more testable or excluding others.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of one-loop effects on dark matter-nucleon scattering in a fermionic dark matter model with Higgs portal interactions, highlighting their impact on experimental detectability.

Findings

One-loop corrections can shrink viable parameter space regions.

Quantum effects may make some regions testable by current or future experiments.

Certain regions viable at tree level are excluded after quantum corrections.

Abstract

We investigate the effect of one loop quantum corrections on the elastic scattering of dark matter off the nucleon in a fermionic dark matter model. The model introduces two new singlet fermions and a singlet scalar. The fermions communicate with the SM particles through a Higgs portal. It is found that some viable regions in the parameter space respecting the bounds from the observed relic density, the Higgs invisible decay width, and direct detection experiment, will be shrunk significantly when one loop effects are taken into account. The regions already resided below the neutrino floor, partly may come into regions which are testable by the current or future direct detection experiments. In addition, some regions being viable at tree level, may be excluded when quantum corrections are included.