We investigate the contribution of higher spin particles in the signal of direct detection searches for dark matter. We consider a bosonic or fermionic higher spin dark matter (HSDM) candidate which interacts with the Standard Model via a dark U(1) mediator. For a particular subclass of interactions, spin-polarized targets may be used for spin determination: The angular dependence of scatterings can distinguish integer (spin-s) vs. half-integer (spin-s + 1 / 2), while the recoil energy dependence of the signal determines s. We consider also the signal of a supersymmetric higher spin dark sector, which suggests a characteristic signal (“SUSY Rilles”) for directional direct detection.
Details
Title
Towards a direct detection of the spin of dark matter
Author
Jenks, Leah : University of Chicago Koutrolikos, Konstantinos : University of Maryland McDonough, Evan : University of Winnipeg Alexander, Stephon : Brown University Gates, S. James, Jr. : University of Maryland
Funding Information
Kavli Foundation, Kavli Fellowship Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Discovery Grant Simons Foundation, 896696 Brown University, Ford Foundation Professorship of Physics Brown University, Brown Theoretical Physics Center University of Maryland, College Park, Endowment of the Clark Leadership Chair in Science