Illuminating Degenerate Dark Sector of Inert Doublet Model at Muon Collider

TL;DR

This paper investigates the potential of a future muon collider to detect the challenging degenerate dark sector of the Inert Doublet Model, which is difficult to probe with current collider experiments due to soft decay products and low production rates.

Contribution

It proposes using a forward muon facility at a future muon collider to effectively explore the degenerate scalar dark sector of the IDM, addressing detection challenges.

Findings

Muon collider can access degenerate dark sector particles

Forward muon detection enhances sensitivity to soft decay products

Potential to uncover elusive dark matter signatures

Abstract

The Inert scalar Doublet Model (IDM) presents a simple yet elegant framework for a scalar dark sector where the lightest mode functions as a viable dark matter candidate under a $\mathbb{Z}_2$ symmetry. With TeV-scale particles accessible to the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) or future colliders, probing different dark matter scenarios within IDM provides an exciting opportunity. While the Higgs portal dark matter scenario is extensively well-studied at the LHC, probing the degenerate scalar dark sector presents some unique challenges, not only in detecting excessively soft decay products and the tiny production cross-section expected at the higher masses. The present study explores the potential of a forward muon facility at a future muon collider to uncover this elusive degenerate dark sector.