Dark Matter from Hidden Forces

الأصل · EN

We examine the possibility that dark matter may be the manifestation of dark forces of a hidden sector, i.e. "Dark Force = Dark Matter." As an illustrative and minimal example we consider the hidden SU(2)ₕ x U(1)ₕ gauge group. The hidden dynamics is indirectly coupled to the Standard Model (SM) through kinetic mixing of U(1)ₕ with the U(1)Y of hypercharge. We assume a hidden symmetry breaking pattern analogous to that of the SM electroweak symmetry, augmented with an extra scalar that allows both the "hidden Z boson" Zₕ and the "hidden photon" γₕ to be massive. The "hidden W" bosons Wₕ are dark matter in this scenario. This setup can readily accommodate a potential direct detection signal for dark matter at 10 GeV from CDMSII-Si data. For some choices of parameters, the model can lead to signals both in "dark matter beam" experiments, from Zₕ→ Wₕ Wₕ, as well as in experiments that look for visible signals of dark photons, mediated by γₕ. Other possible phenomenological consequences are also briefly discussed.