Phenomenology 2022 Symposium: From Virtual to Real

Maximizing Direct Detection with HYPER Dark Matter

9 May 2022, 18:00

15m

Lawrence Hall 104

DM II

Speaker

Robert McGehee

Description

We estimate the maximum direct detection cross section for sub-GeV dark matter scattering off nucleons. For dark matter masses in the range of $10\text{ keV}-100\text{ MeV}$, cross sections greater than ${10}^{-36}-{10}^{-30}{\text{ cm}}^2$ seem implausible. We introduce a dark matter candidate which realizes this maximum cross section: HighlY interactive ParticlE Relics (HYPERs). After HYPERs freeze-in, a dark sector phase transition decreases the mass of the mediator which connects HYPERs to the visible sector. This increases the HYPER's direct detection cross section, but in such a way as to leave the HYPER's abundance unaffected and avoid conflict with measurements of Big Bang Nucleosynthesis and the Cosmic Microwave Background. HYPERs present a benchmark for direct detection experiments in a parameter space with few known dark matter models.

Presentation materials

R McGehee - Maximizing Direct Detection with HYPER DM.pdf