Thermal dark matter from a highly decoupled sector

Asher Berlin, Dan Hooper, and Gordan Krnjaic
Phys. Rev. D 94, 095019 – Published 17 November 2016

Abstract

It has recently been shown that if the dark matter is in thermal equilibrium with a sector that is highly decoupled from the Standard Model, it can freeze out with an acceptable relic abundance, even if the dark matter is as heavy as 1100PeV. In such scenarios, both the dark and visible sectors are populated after inflation, but with independent temperatures. The lightest particle in the dark sector will be generically long-lived and can come to dominate the energy density of the Universe. Upon decaying, these particles can significantly reheat the visible sector, diluting the abundance of dark matter and thus allowing for dark matter particles that are much heavier than conventional WIMPs. In this paper, we present a systematic and pedagogical treatment of the cosmological history in this class of models, emphasizing the simplest scenarios in which a dark matter candidate annihilates into hidden sector particles which then decay into visible matter through the vector, Higgs, or lepton portals. In each case, we find ample parameter space in which very heavy dark matter particles can provide an acceptable thermal relic abundance. We also discuss possible extensions of models featuring these dynamics.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
2 More
  • Received 16 September 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.94.095019

© 2016 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

  1. Research Areas
Particles & Fields

Authors & Affiliations

Asher Berlin1,*, Dan Hooper2,3,†, and Gordan Krnjaic2,‡

  • 1Department of Physics, Enrico Fermi Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
  • 2Center for Particle Astrophysics, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Batavia, Illinois 60510, USA
  • 3Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 94, Iss. 9 — 1 November 2016

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
CHORUS

Article Available via CHORUS

Download Accepted Manuscript
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review D

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×