Effective Field Theory and Scalar Triplet Dark Matter

TL;DR

This paper explores a scalar triplet dark matter model extended with non-renormalizable operators, analyzing how these operators affect relic density and detection constraints, and highlighting the potential for future indirect detection tests.

Contribution

It introduces non-renormalizable operators into the scalar triplet dark matter model and studies their impact on relic density and detection constraints, providing new insights into viable parameter space.

Findings

Bosonic operators significantly alter relic density.

Indirect detection constraints already exclude part of the parameter space.

Future CTA observations could decisively test the model.

Abstract

We discuss an extension of the standard model with a real scalar triplet, $T$, including non-renormalizable operators (NROs) up to $d=6$. If $T$ is odd under a $Z_2$ symmetry, the neutral component of $T$ is a good candidate for the dark matter (DM) of the universe. We calculate the relic density and constraints from direct and indirect detection on such a setup, concentrating on the differences with respect to the simple model for a DM $T$ with only renormalizable interactions. Bosonic operators can change the relic density of the triplet drastically, opening up new parameter space for the model. Indirect detection constraints, on the other hand, rule out an interesting part of the allowed parameter space already today and future CTA data will, very likely, provide a decisive test for this setup.