Constraints on maverick dark matter from direct detection and hadron colliders
Zosia Krusberg
University of Chicago
Mercredi 06/10/2010, 14:15
Salle Claude Itzykson, Bât. 774, Orme des Merisiers
Many recent studies have sought to use results from direct detection and collider experiments to constrain the properties of dark matter; in most of these cases, detection prospects and constraints are evaluated within the context of some specific particle physics model. Although the theoretical frameworks of these models are often both theoretically well-motivated and compelling, all of these models still lack experimental support; therefore, we cannot exclude the possibility that dark matter belongs to some other, yet unidentified, theory. In our work, we develop a model-independent approach toward the phenomenology of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) in the scenario in which our WIMP candidate is the only new particle species within reach of the LHC: a ``maverick'' WIMP. For a given spin and interaction form with standard model particles, we evaluate the constraints from present and future direct detection experiments. We further study the collider signal of the production of maverick WIMPs not yet excluded by direct detection experiments, and its distinguishability from standard model background processes. Finally, recent CDF data is used to place further constraints on the properties of these remaining maverick WIMPs.
Contact : ccaprini