Constraints on scalar dark matter from direct experimental searches
Journal
Physical Review D - Particles, Fields, Gravitation and Cosmology
Journal Volume
79
Journal Issue
2
Date Issued
2009
Author(s)
Abstract
The standard model (SM) plus a real gauge-singlet scalar field dubbed darkon (SM+D) is the simplest model possessing a weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) dark-matter candidate. The upper limits for the WIMP-nucleon elastic cross section as a function of WIMP mass from the recent XENON10 and CDMSII experiments rule out darkon mass ranges from 10 to (50, 70, 75) GeV for Higgs-boson masses of (120, 200, 350) GeV, respectively. This may exclude the possibility of the darkon providing an explanation for the gamma-ray excess observed in the EGRET data. We show that by extending the SM+D to a two-Higgs-doublet model plus a darkon the experimental constraints on the WIMP-nucleon interactions can be circumvented due to suppression occurring at some values of the product tan αtan β, with α being the neutral-Higgs mixing angle and tan β the ratio of vacuum expectation values of the Higgs doublets. We also comment on the implication of the darkon model for Higgs searches at the LHC. © 2009 The American Physical Society.
Type
journal article