QCD axion and topological susceptibility in chiral effective Lagrangian models at finite temperature

In this work we compute the axion mass and, from this (exploiting a well-known relation), we also derive an expression for the QCD topological susceptibility in the finite-temperature case, both below and above the chiral phase transition at $T_c$, making use of a chiral effective Lagrangian model which includes the axion, the scalar and pseudoscalar mesons and implements the $U(1)$ axial anomaly of the fundamental theory. We also provide a numerical estimate of the topological susceptibility at $T=0$ (in the physical case of three light quark flavors) and discuss the question of the temperature and quark-mass dependence of the topological susceptibility in the high-temperature regime.Comment: 26 pages, revised version, published in Phys. Rev.

Asymmetric accidental composite dark matter

The goal of this work is to find the simplest UV completion of Accidental Composite Dark Matter Models (ACDM) that can dynamically generate an asymmetry for the DM candidate, the lightest dark baryon (DCb), and simultaneously annihilate the symmetric component. In this framework the DCb is a bound state of a confining SU(N)(DC) gauge group, and can interact weakly with the visible sector. The constituents of the DCb can possess non-trivial charges under the Standard Model gauge group. The generation of asymmetry for such candidate is a two-flavor variation of the out-of-equilibrium decay of a heavy scalar, with mass M-phi greater than or similar to 10(10) GeV. Below the scale of the scalars, the models recover accidental stability, or long-livedness, of the DM candidate. The symmetric component is annihilated by residual confined interactions provided that the mass of the DCb m(DCb) less than or similar to 75 TeV. We implement the mechanism of asymmetry generation, or a variation of it, in all the original ACDM models, managing to generate the correct asymmetry for DCb of masses in this range. For some of the models found, the stability of the DM candidate is not spoiled even considering generic GUT completions or asymmetry generation mechanisms in the visible sector

Minimal Dark Matter bound states at future colliders

The hypothesis that Dark Matter is one electroweak multiplet leads to predictive candidates with multi-TeV masses that can form electroweak bound states. Bound states with the same quantum numbers as electroweak vectors are found to be especially interesting, as they can be produced resonantly with large cross sections at lepton colliders. Such bound states exist e.g. if DM is an automatically stable fermionic weak 5-plet with mass $M \approx$ 14 TeV such that the DM abundance is reproduced thermally. In this model, a muon collider could resolve three such bound states. Production rates are so large that details of DM spectroscopy can be probed with larger statistics: we compute the characteristic pattern of single and multiple $\gamma$ lines.Comment: v2, to appear on JHE

A GUT Framework for Accidental Composite Dark Matter

We study and classify $SU(5)$-GUT completions of accidental composite dark matter models. These theories postulate new vectorlike confining dark color dynamics and give an accidentally stable baryonic dark matter candidate. In realistic theories, dark fermion $SU(5)$ irreps split into light dark quarks, whose bound states include the dark matter, and their much heavier GUT partners. A simple analysis shows that such a mass hierarchy requires a fine tuning of parameters and thus implies a naturalness problem. We select theories requiring that all dangerous metastable states decay before the onset of nucleosynthesis through higher-dimensional operators generated at the GUT scale or at the mass scale of dark quark GUT partners. Demanding Standard Model gauge coupling unification puts severe constraints on the landscape of viable theories. Under the assumption of an approximately degenerate spectrum of dark quark GUT partners, we find that only one model gives precision unification.Comment: 38 pages, 6 figure

Stellar limits on scalars from electron-nucleus bremsstrahlung

We revisit stellar energy-loss bounds on the Yukawa couplings $g_{\rm B,L}$ of baryophilic and leptophilic scalars $\phi$. The white-dwarf luminosity function yields $g_{\rm B}\lesssim 7 \times 10^{-13}$ and $g_{\rm L}\lesssim 4 \times 10^{-16}$, based on bremsstrahlung from ${}^{12}{\rm C}$ and ${}^{16}{\rm O}$ collisions with electrons. In models with a Higgs portal, this also implies a bound on the scalar-Higgs mixing angle $\sin \theta \lesssim 2 \times 10^{-10}$. Our new bounds apply for $m_\phi\lesssim {\rm 1~keV}$ and are among the most restrictive ones, whereas for $m_\phi\lesssim 0.5\,{\rm eV}$ long-range force measurements dominate. Besides a detailed calculation of the bremsstrahlung rate for degenerate and semi-relativistic electrons, we prove with a simple argument that non-relativistic bremsstrahlung by the heavy partner is suppressed relative to that by the light one by their squared-mass ratio. This large reduction was overlooked in previous much stronger bounds on $g_{\rm B}$. In an Appendix, we provide fitting formulas (few percent precision) for the bremsstrahlung emission of baryophilic and leptophilic scalars as well as axions for white-dwarf conditions, i.e., degenerate, semi-relativistic electrons and ion-ion correlations in the ``liquid'' phase.Comment: 22 pages + appendices, 7 figure

Unveiling dark forces with the Large Scale Structure of the Universe

Cosmology offers opportunities to test Dark Matter independently of its interactions with the Standard Model. We study the imprints of long-range forces acting solely in the dark sector on the distribution of galaxies, the so-called Large Scale Structure (LSS). We derive the strongest constraint on such forces from a combination of Planck and BOSS data. Along the way we consistently develop, for the first time, the Effective Field Theory of LSS in the presence of new dynamics in the dark sector. We forecast that future surveys will improve the current bound by an order of magnitude.Comment: 5+18 pages, 4 figure

From 100 kpc to 10 Gpc: Dark Matter self-interactions before and after DESI

We consider Dark Matter self-interactions mediated by ultralight scalars. We show that effectively massless mediators lead to an enhancement of the matter power spectrum, while heavier mediators lead to a suppression, together with a feature around their Jeans scale. We derive the strongest present constraints by combining Planck and BOSS data. The recent DESI measurements of Baryon Acoustic Oscillations exhibit a mild preference for long-range self-interactions, as strong as 4 per mille of the gravitational coupling. Forthcoming data from DESI itself and Euclid will confirm or disprove such a hint.Comment: 5+7 pages, 8 figure

Closing the window on WIMP Dark Matter

We study scenarios where Dark Matter is a weakly interacting particle (WIMP) embedded in an ElectroWeak multiplet. In particular, we consider real SU(2) representations with zero hypercharge, that automatically avoid direct detection constraints from tree-level Z-exchange. We compute for the first time all the calculable thermal masses for scalar and fermionic WIMPs, including Sommerfeld enhancement and bound states formation at leading order in gauge boson exchange and emission. WIMP masses of few hundred TeV are shown to be compatible both with s-wave unitarity of the annihilation cross-section, and perturbativity. We also provide theory uncertainties on the masses for all multiplets, which are shown to be significant for large SU(2) multiplets. We then outline a strategy to probe these scenarios at future experiments. Electroweak 3-plets and 5-plets have masses up to about 16 TeV and can efficiently be probed at a high energy muon collider. We study various experimental signatures, such as single and double gauge boson emission with missing energy, and disappearing tracks, and determine the collider energy and luminosity required to probe the thermal Dark Matter masses. Larger multiplets are out of reach of any realistic future collider, but can be tested in future γ-ray telescopes and possibly in large-exposure liquid Xenon experiments

The last complex WIMPs standing

We continue the study of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMP) started in [arXiv:2107.09688], focusing on a single complex electroweak $n$-plet with non-zero hypercharge added to the Standard Model. The minimal splitting between the Dark Matter and its electroweak neutral partner required to circumvent direct detection constraints allows only multiplets with hypercharge smaller or equal to 1. We compute for the first time all the calculable WIMP masses up to the largest multiplet allowed by perturbative unitarity. For the minimal allowed splitting, most of these multiplets can be fully probed at future large-exposure direct detection experiments, with the notable exception of the doublet with hypercharge 1/2. We show how a future muon collider can fully explore the parameter space of the complex doublet combining missing mass, displaced track and long-lived track searches. In the same spirit, we study how a future muon collider can probe the parameter space of complex WIMPs in regions where the direct detection cross section drops below the neutrino floor. Finally, we comment on how precision observables can provide additional constraints on complex WIMPs.Comment: 15 pages + appendices, 6 + 6 figures, 1 + 3 table