Naturally resonant two-mediator model of self-interacting dark matter with decoupled relic abundance

TL;DR

This paper introduces a two-mediator model for self-interacting dark matter that decouples early-universe annihilation from late-time astrophysical effects, providing a predictive framework consistent with observations and testable at colliders and in direct detection experiments.

Contribution

The paper proposes a minimal, thermal two-mediator dark matter model with a light scalar and a heavy resonance, uniquely addressing relic abundance and astrophysical signatures simultaneously.

Findings

Identifies a narrow viable parameter space matching relic density and self-interaction constraints.

Predicts a TeV-scale $t\bar t$ resonance accessible at HL-LHC.

Forecasts a next-generation direct detection signal near current sensitivity.

Abstract

We propose a minimal, fully thermal mechanism that resolves the long-standing tension between achieving the observed dark-matter relic abundance and explaining the astrophysical signatures of self-interactions. The framework introduces two mediators: a light scalar $\phi$ (MeV scale) that yields the required, velocity-dependent self-interactions, and a heavy scalar resonance $\Phi_h$ (TeV scale) with mass $m_{\Phi_h}\!\approx\!2m_\chi$ that opens an $s$-channel resonant annihilation during freeze-out. This clearly decouples early-universe annihilation from late-time halo dynamics. A detailed numerical analysis identified a narrow predictive island of viability. A representative benchmark with $m_\chi\!=\!600$~GeV, $m_\phi\!=\!15$~MeV, and $m_{\Phi_h}\!\simeq\!1.2$~TeV reproduces the relic density and yields $\sigma_T/m_\chi\sim 0.1$--$1~\mathrm{cm}^2\!/\mathrm{g}$ at dwarf-galaxy velocities while satisfying cluster bounds. The model makes sharp, testable predictions: a narrow $t\bar t$ resonance near $1.2$~TeV within HL-LHC reach, and a spin-independent direct-detection signal $\sigma_{\rm SI}\!\sim\!7\times10^{-48}\,\mathrm{cm}^2$ within next-generation sensitivity. As an optional UV completion, we show that walking $\mathrm{SU}(3)_H$ gauge theory with $N_f=10$ naturally realizes the near-threshold relation $m_{\Phi_h}\!\approx\!2m_\chi$ and can furnish an effective anomalous dimension $\gamma\!\approx\!0.5$ which underlies a density-responsive dark-energy sector, suggesting a unified origin for the dark sector.