Leptophilic Dark Matter from the Lepton Asymmetry

Journal Article · Fri Mar 12 04:00:00 EST 2010 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.104.101301· OSTI ID:21386838

Cohen, Timothy; Zurek, Kathryn M

We present a model of weak scale dark matter (DM) where the thermal DM density is set by the lepton asymmetry due to the presence of higher dimension lepton violating operators. In these models there is generically a separation between the annihilation cross section responsible for the relic abundance (through lepton violating operators) and the annihilation cross section that is relevant for the indirect detection of DM (through lepton preserving operators). This implies a perceived boost in the annihilation cross section in the Galaxy today relative to that derived for canonical thermal freeze-out, giving a natural explanation for the observed cosmic ray electron and positron excesses, without resorting to a Sommerfeld enhancement. These models motivate continued searches for DM with apparently nonthermal annihilation cross sections. The DM may also play a role in radiatively generating Majorana neutrino masses.

• OSTI ID: 21386838
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 104; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
ANNIHILATION
ANTILEPTONS
ANTIMATTER
ANTIPARTICLES
ASYMMETRY
COSMIC RADIATION
CROSS SECTIONS
DENSITY
DETECTION
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
FREEZING OUT
GALAXIES
INTERACTIONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LEPTONS
MASSLESS PARTICLES
MATTER
NEUTRINOS
NONLUMINOUS MATTER
PARTICLE INTERACTIONS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POSITRONS
RADIATION DETECTION
RADIATIONS
SEPARATION PROCESSES