Dark Matter Escaping Direct Detection Runs into Higgs Mass Hierarchy Problem

TL;DR

The paper demonstrates that heavy dark matter models coupling to the Higgs are largely ruled out by current direct detection limits due to Higgs mass corrections, except near half the Higgs mass.

Contribution

It reveals that Higgs mass hierarchy constraints exclude most heavy dark matter models with Higgs coupling, refining the viable parameter space.

Findings

Heavy dark matter models are largely ruled out by Higgs mass corrections.

Current LZ limits exclude most heavy dark matter except near M_h/2.

Higgs coupling is a critical factor in dark matter model viability.

Abstract

The current generation of Dark Matter Direct Detection Experiments has ruled out a large region of parameter space for dark matter, particularly in the ($10 - 1000$) GeV mass range. However, due to very low event rates, searching for dark matter in the heavy mass range, $\mathcal{O}$(TeV), is a daunting task requiring even larger volume detectors and long exposure times. We show that for a broad class of dark matter models of the type that these experiments are searching, including some of the most popular candidates, the heavy dark matter mass range can be ruled out in its entirety once we take into account the large corrections to Higgs mass imparted by such heavy dark matter. We show that such a limit is applicable to all types of dark matter i.e. scalar, vector, and fermionic, provided they couple directly with Higgs. By taking some simple and well studied dark matter models we show that the latest LZ limits can completely rule out such a dark matter except in a narrow range around $M_h/2$ mass.