Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: A bstract We point out that a QCD-like dark sector can be coupled to the Standard Model by gauging the topological Skyrme current, which measures the dark baryon number in the infrared, to give a technically natural model for dark matter. This coupling allows for a semi-annihilation process χχ → χX μ , where X μ is the gauge boson mediator and χ a dark pion field, which plays the dominant role in setting the dark matter relic abundance. The topological interaction is purely p -wave and so free from indirect detection constraints. We show that the dark matter pion mass needs to be in the range 10 MeV ≲ m χ ≲ 1 TeV; towards the lighter end of this range, there can moreover be significant self-interactions. We discuss prospects for probing this scenario at collider experiments, ranging from the LHC to low-energy e + e − colliders, future Higgs factories, and beam-dump experiments.
Source: Journal of High Energy Physics
Language: English
Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
Awards: G1286236842, Non-perturbative dynamics of chiral gauge theories, G1863003419, New Pathways Connecting Theory and Experiment, G2572010123, G3083819904, G3376038167, G419881185, G42916606, G4501827968, G498139845, G5217172575, G5739170877, G638836682, G6652958823, G6902702339, G759921648, G7866295892, G969889393
OpenAlex ID: W7128615215