Detecting Stealth Dark Matter Directly through Electromagnetic Polarizability

Area of Science:

• Particle Physics
• Cosmology
• Astrophysics

Background:

• Dark matter remains undetected, necessitating new theoretical models and detection strategies.
• Composite dark matter candidates, like stealth dark matter, offer alternative explanations beyond WIMPs.
• Electromagnetic interactions are crucial for direct detection experiments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To calculate the spin-independent scattering cross section for stealth dark matter direct detection.
• To investigate the role of electromagnetic polarizability in composite dark matter interactions.
• To determine the potential detectability of stealth dark matter in current and future experiments.

Main Methods:

• Lattice calculations using the background field method on quenched configurations.
• Nonrelativistic limit analysis of dimension-7 interactions.
• Comparison of SU(3) and SU(4) gauge theories for polarizability.

Main Results:

• Electromagnetic polarizability leads to a lower bound on the scattering cross section for composite dark matter.
• SU(3) and SU(4) polarizabilities are comparable when normalized to the stealth baryon mass.
• Potentially detectable scattering cross sections for dark matter in the 200-700 GeV mass range with a xenon target.

Conclusions:

• Stealth dark matter with masses of 200-700 GeV may be detectable via direct detection experiments.
• The steep mass dependence of the cross section minimizes the impact of nuclear structure uncertainties.
• Collider searches and astrophysical observations can further probe stealth dark matter.