2022-09-30 11:00  P5A-1/Online

Probing minimal models of dark matter

Dr. Jan Tristram Acuña

There are overwhelming pieces of evidence for the existence of dark matter (DM), but its exact identity is very much unknown. Adhering to the particle DM paradigm, the nonbaryonic nature of DM implies that potential DM candidates lie in extensions of the Standard Model (SM). In this seminar, I will briefly discuss minimal models of DM, whose constructions are motivated by theoretical issues and experimental anomalies in the SM. In order to extract definite predictions that can be compared with known observables, we commit to specific realizations of such minimal models: a multicomponent dark U(1) sector, inspired by a model that aimed to address the flavor puzzle; and a minimal extension of the SM by introducing scalar lepton partners and a bino-like Majorana fermion, motivated by the recently reported muon g-2 anomaly. Common features of these models include: nonstandard DM production mechanisms; and nonstandard DM-nucleon interactions, relevant for direct searches for DM, beyond the usual spin-independent/spin-independent framework. In cases where current and future generation liquid noble gas detectors are marginally sensitive to certain DM models, we show that neutron star kinetic heating can offer better sensitivity reach. I will conclude the talk by mentioning possible future research directions.