1,065 research outputs found
Dark matter scattering on electrons: Accurate calculations of atomic excitations and implications for the DAMA signal
We revisit the WIMP-type dark matter scattering on electrons that results in
atomic ionization, and can manifest itself in a variety of existing
direct-detection experiments. Unlike the WIMP-nucleon scattering, where current
experiments probe typical interaction strengths much smaller than the Fermi
constant, the scattering on electrons requires a much stronger interaction to
be detectable, which in turn requires new light force carriers. We account for
such new forces explicitly, by introducing a mediator particle with scalar or
vector couplings to dark matter and to electrons. We then perform state of the
art numerical calculations of atomic ionization relevant to the existing
experiments. Our goals are to consistently take into account the atomic physics
aspect of the problem (e.g., the relativistic effects, which can be quite
significant), and to scan the parameter space: the dark matter mass, the
mediator mass, and the effective coupling strength, to see if there is any part
of the parameter space that could potentially explain the DAMA modulation
signal. While we find that the modulation fraction of all events with energy
deposition above 2 keV in NaI can be quite significant, reaching ~50%, the
relevant parts of the parameter space are excluded by the XENON10 and XENON100
experiments
The Pion-Photon Transition Form Factor and New Physics in the Tau Sector
Recent measurement of the form factor of the neutral pion
in the high region disagrees with {\em a priori} predictions of QCD-based
calculations. We comment on existing explanations, and analyze a possibility
that this discrepancy is not due to poorly understood QCD effects, but is a
result of some new physics beyond the standard model (SM). We show that such
physics would necessarily involve a new neutral light state with mass close to
the mass of , and with stronger than couplings to heavier SM
flavors such as , , and . It is found that only the coupling to the
lepton can survive the existing constraints and lead to the observed
rise of the pion form factor relative to at high . We perform
numerical fits to data and determine the allowed range of masses and couplings
for such new particles. This range of masses and couplings could also reduce or
eliminate the tension between the and decay determinations of
the hadronic vacuum polarization. Dedicated experimental analysis of
pair production in association with such new states should provide a conclusive
test of the new physics hypothesis as an explanation to the pion form factor
rise. We also comment on the calculations of the pion form factor in the chiral
quark model, and point out a possible dynamical origin of the quark mass scale
inferred from the form factor measurement.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures, revtex4-1; v2: additional references, improved
discussion of pion mixing case, published versio
Sub-eV scalar dark matter through the super-renormalizable Higgs portal
The Higgs portal of the Standard Model provides the opportunity for coupling
to a very light scalar field via the super-renormalizable operator
. This allows for the existence of a very light scalar dark
matter that has coherent interaction with the Standard Model particles and yet
has its mass protected against radiative corrections. We analyze ensuing
constraints from the fifth-force measurements, along with the cosmological
requirements. We find that the detectable level of the fifth-force can be
achieved in models with low inflationary scales, and certain amount of
fine-tuning in the initial deviation of from its minimum.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures. References added in the revised version
Atomic electric dipole moments of He and Yb induced by nuclear Schiff moments
We have calculated the atomic electric dipole moments (EDMs) d of ^3He and
^{171}Yb induced by their respective nuclear Schiff moments S. Our results are
d(He)= 8.3x10^{-5} and d(Yb)= -1.9 in units 10^{-17}S/(e{fm}^3)e cm. By
considering the nuclear Schiff moments induced by the parity and time-reversal
violating nucleon-nucleon interaction we find d(^{171}Yb)~0.6d(^{199}Hg). For
^3He the nuclear EDM coupled with the hyperfine interaction gives a larger
atomic EDM than the Schiff moment. The result for ^3He is required for a
neutron EDM experiment that is under development, where ^3He is used as a
comagnetometer. We find that the EDM for He is orders of magnitude smaller than
the neutron EDM. The result for Yb is needed for the planning and
interpretation of experiments that have been proposed to measure the EDM of
this atom.Comment: 4 page
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