On-shell effective theory for higher-spin dark matter

Submission summary

 As Contributors: Giulia Isabella Arxiv Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2011.05339v3 (pdf) Date accepted: 2021-04-28 Date submitted: 2021-04-09 17:20 Submitted by: Isabella, Giulia Submitted to: SciPost Physics Academic field: Physics Specialties: High-Energy Physics - Phenomenology Approach: Theoretical

Abstract

We apply the on-shell amplitude techniques in the domain of dark matter. Without evoking fields and Lagrangians, an effective theory for a massive spin-$S$ particle is defined in terms of on-shell amplitudes, which are written down using the massive spinor formalism. This procedure greatly simplifies the study of theories with a higher-spin dark matter particle. In particular, it provides an efficient way to calculate the rates of processes controlling dark matter production, and offers better physical insight into how different processes depend on the relevant scales in the theory. We demonstrate the applicability of these methods by exploring two scenarios where higher-spin DM is produced via the freeze-in mechanism. One scenario is minimal, involving only universal gravitational interactions, and is compatible with dark matter masses in a very broad range from sub-TeV to the GUT scale. The other scenario involves direct coupling of higher-spin DM to the Standard Model via the Higgs intermediary, and leads to a rich phenomenology, including dark matter decay signatures.

Published as SciPost Phys. 10, 101 (2021)

Dear Editor,
We thank the referees for the constructive comments and all the interesting points raised. Below, we detail the changes we have made in the draft to address their helpful feedback.

List of changes

- A mistake has been made by plotting the green region on Figure 6. The figure has been replaced, and now the green region corresponds to the same region in Figure 7. Thank to this comment we spotted a typo in the code related to the position
of the violet region (Higgs-mediated pair production). This region lies above $M_Pl$ and therefore is
relevant only beyond the validity of the EFT. For this reason we excluded it from the plot and changed
the discussion below Eq.(4.10). The same mistake was done in Figure 8, which has also been replaced.
- Comment added under equation 3.6 on the scaling of the Wilson coefficients
- Comment added below eq. (3.7) on the validity of eqs. 3.3-3.5
- We elaborate more about the di fferences between the models in the footnote of pag.2.

Submission & Refereeing History

Resubmission 2011.05339v3 on 9 April 2021
Submission 2011.05339v2 on 14 December 2020

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I would like to thank the authors for the reply to my previous report. With their clarifications and additions I believe the manuscript is now suitable for publication.

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The new manuscript can be accepted for publication as is

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