Dark matter direct detection constraints from gauge bosons loops

Abstract

While many interactions of dark matter (DM) with the standard model (SM) affect direct detection and LHC searches, there are only a few operators generating annihilation of DM into photons. All of these operators, except four of them, give rise to unsuppressed rates, rendering indirect detection superior to other search strategies. For two of the four effective interactions with velocity-suppressed annihilation cross sections, we identify a new type of loop effect which significantly enhances the associated direct detection rates. As a result, relevant constraints from next-generation direct detection experiments on DM-SM interactions, so far only bounded by the LHC, are obtained.

Comments: 7 pages, 2 figures; references updated; version to appear in PRD