F\'eeton dark matter above the $e^-e^+$ threshold

TL;DR

This paper investigates Féeton dark matter in a U(1)$_{B-L}$ extended Standard Model, focusing on its decay properties above the electron-positron threshold and implications for gamma-ray observations.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of the decay phenomenology of Féeton dark matter above the $e^- e^+$ threshold, highlighting the necessity of kinetic mixing for viability.

Findings

Pure U(1)$_{B-L}$ extension is excluded by 511 keV photon observations.

Non-zero kinetic mixing is required for Féeton dark matter to be viable.

Future MeV-gamma ray telescopes can probe the decay signatures of Féeton dark matter.

Abstract

The new gauge boson introduced in the minimal extension of the standard model (SM) by gauging the U(1)$_{\rm B-L}$ symmetry plays the role of dark matter when the U(1)$_{\rm B-L}$ gauge coupling is highly suppressed. This dark matter, named the F\'eeton dark matter is known to be efficiently created in the early universe by inflationary fluctuations with minimal gravity coupling, hence the framework, the gauged U(1)$_{\rm B-L}$ extended SM + inflation, solves the four major problems of the SM; neutrino masses/mixings, dark matter, baryon asymmetry of the universe, and the initial condition of the universe (inflation). We comprehensively study the phenomenology of the dark matter when it is heavier than the $e^- e^+$ threshold, namely twice the electron mass, considering the threshold effect on the dark matter decay into $e^- e^+$. The viable parameter region is found only in the threshold region, while the branching fraction of the decay into $e^- e^+$ (i.e., the $e^- e^+$ signal) never vanishes even at the threshold due to the effect. As a result, the pure U(1)$_{\rm B-L}$ extension without the kinetic mixing between the U(1)$_{\rm B-L}$ and hyper-charge gauge bosons have already been excluded by the present observation of the 511\,keV photon from the galactic center. So, the F\'eeton dark matter requires a non-zero kinetic mixing to be a viable dark matter candidate and will be efficiently explored by future MeV-gamma ray telescopes thanks to the non-vanishing decay process into $e^- e^+$.