Light stops, blind spots, and isospin violation in the MSSM

Author(s)

Andreas Crivellin, Martin Hoferichter, Massimiliano Procura, Lewis C. Tunstall

Abstract

In the framework of the MSSM, we examine several simplified models where only a few superpartners are light. This allows us to study WIMP-nucleus scattering in terms of a handful of MSSM parameters and thereby scrutinize their impact on dark matter direct-detection experiments. Focusing on spin-independent WIMP-nucleon scattering, we derive simplified, analytic expressions for the Wilson coefficients associated with Higgs and squark exchange. We utilize these results to study the complementarity of constraints due to direct-detection, flavor, and collider experiments. We also identify parameter configurations that produce (almost) vanishing cross sections. In the proximity of these so-called blind spots, we find that the amount of isospin violation may be much larger than typically expected in the MSSM. This feature is a generic property of parameter regions where cross sections are suppressed, and highlights the importance of a careful analysis of the nucleon matrix elements and the associated hadronic uncertainties. This becomes especially relevant once the increased sensitivity of future direct-detection experiments corners the MSSM into these regions of parameter space.

Organisation(s)

Particle Physics

External organisation(s)

Universität Bern, European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, Technische Universität Darmstadt

Journal

Journal of High Energy Physics

Volume

2015

No. of pages

43

ISSN

1029-8479

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP07(2015)129

Publication date

07-2015

Peer reviewed

Yes

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

103034 Particle physics

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Nuclear and High Energy Physics

Portal url

https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/light-stops-blind-spots-and-isospin-violation-in-the-mssm(4c8fbaeb-ce4c-49a8-8746-ec61325befd8).html