Dark Atoms of Dark Matter and Their Stable Charged Constituents (original) (raw)

Physics of Dark Matter in the Light of Dark Atoms

Modern Physics Letters A, 2011

Direct searches for dark matter lead to serious problems for simple models with stable neutral Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) as candidates for dark matter. A possibility is discussed that new stable quarks and charged leptons exist and are hidden from detection, being bound in neutral dark atoms of composite dark matter. Stable -2 charged particles O -- are bound with primordial helium in O-helium (OHe) atoms, being specific nuclear interacting form of composite Warmer than Cold dark matter. Slowed down in the terrestrial matter, OHe is elusive for direct methods of underground dark matter detection based on the search for effects of nuclear recoil in WIMP-nucleus collisions. The positive results of DAMA experiments can be explained as annual modulation of radiative capture of O-helium by nuclei. In the framework of this approach, test of DAMA results in detectors with other chemical content becomes a nontrivial task, while the experimental search of stable charged pa...

Composite Dark Matter and Puzzles of Dark Matter Searches

International Journal of Modern Physics D, 2010

Positive results of dark matter searches in DAMA/NaI and DAMA/LIBRA experiments, being put together with the results of other groups, can imply nontrivial particle physics solutions for cosmological dark matter. Stable particles with charge -2, bound with primordial helium in O-helium "atoms" (OHe), represent a specific Warmer than Cold nuclear-interacting form of dark matter. Slowed down in the terrestrial matter, OHe is elusive for direct methods of underground Dark matter detection used in cryogenic experiments. However radiative capture of OHe by Na and I nuclei can lead to annual variations of energy release in the interval of energy 2-5 keV in DAMA/NaI and DAMA/LIBRA experiments.

Composite dark matter from stable charged constituents

2008

Heavy stable charged particles can exist, hidden from us in bound atomlike states. Models with new stable charged leptons and quarks give rise to realistic composite dark matter scenarios. Significant or even dominant component of O-helium (atomlike system of He4 nucleus and heavy -2 charged particle) is inevitable feature of such scenarios. Possible O-helium explanation for the positron excess in the galactic bulge and for the controversy between the positive results of DAMA and negative results of other experiments is proposed.

The puzzles of dark matter searches

2009

Positive results of dark matter searches in DAMA/NaI and DAMA/LIBRA experiments, being put together with negative results of other groups, can imply nontrivial particle physics solutions for cosmological dark matter. Stable particles with charge -2 bind with primordial helium in O-helium "atoms" (OHe), representing a specific Warmer than Cold nuclear-interacting form of dark matter. Slowed down in the terrestrial matter, OHe is elusive for direct methods of underground Dark matter detection like those used in CDMS experiment, but its reactions with nuclei can lead to annual variations of energy release in the interval of energy 2-6 keV in DAMA/NaI and DAMA/LIBRA experiments. Schrodinger equation for system of nucleus and OHe is solved for spherically symmetrical potential well, formed by the Yukawa tail of nuclear scalar isoscalar attraction potential, acting on He beyond the nucleus, and dipole Coulomb repulsion between the nucleus and OHe at distances from the nuclear surface, smaller than the size of OHe. The window of parameters of this potential is found, at which the sodium and/or iodine nuclei have a few keV binding energy with OHe. At nuclear parameters, reproducing DAMA results, the energy release predicted for detectors with chemical content other than NaI differ in the most cases from the one in DAMA detector. In particular, it is shown that in the case of CDMS the energy of OHe-germanium bound state is beyond the range of 2-6 keV and its formation should not lead to ionization in the energy interval of DAMA signal. (abridged)

Low energy binding of composite dark matter with nuclei as a solution for the puzzles of dark matter searches

2009

Positive results of dark matter searches in experiments DAMA/NaI and DAMA/LIBRA taken together with negative results of other groups can imply nontrivial particle physics solutions for cosmological dark matter. Stable particles with charge -2 bind with primordial helium in O-helium "atoms" (OHe), representing a specific Warmer than Cold nuclear-interacting form of dark matter. Slowed down in the terrestrial matter, OHe is elusive for direct methods of underground Dark matter detection like those used in CDMS experiment, but its low energy binding with nuclei can lead to annual variations of energy release in the interval of energy 2-6 keV in DAMA/NaI and DAMA/LIBRA experiments. Schrodinger equation for system of nucleus and OHe is solved for a spherically symmetrical potential, formed by the Yukawa tail of nuclear scalar isoscalar attraction potential, acting on He beyond the nucleus, and dipole Coulomb repulsion between the nucleus and OHe at distances from the nuclear surface, smaller than the size of OHe. The values of coupling strength and mass of meson, mediating scalar isoscalar, are rather uncertain. Within the uncertainties of parameters of nuclear potential we find a range of these parameters, at which the sodium and/or iodine nuclei have a few keV binding energy with OHe. At nuclear parameters, reproducing DAMA results, the energy release predicted for detectors with chemical content other than NaI differ in the most cases from the one in DAMA detector. In particular, it is shown that in the case of CDMS germanium state has binding energy with OHe beyond the range of 2-6 keV and its formation should not lead to ionization in the energy range of DAMA signal. (abridged)

10 Years of Dark Atoms of Composite Dark Matter

2015

In 2005 Sheldon Glashow has proposed his sinister model, opening the path to composite-dark-matter scenarios, in which heavy stable electrically charged particles bound in neutral atoms play the role of dark matter candidates. Though the general problem of new stable single charged particles, forming with ordinary electrons anomalous isotopes of hydrogen, turned out to be unresolvable in Glashow's scenario, this scenario stimulated development of composite dark matter models, which can avoid the trouble of anomalous isotope overproduction. In the simplest case composite dark matter may consist of -2 charged particles, bound by ordinary Coulomb interaction with primordial helium in OHe dark matter model. The advantage and open problems of this model are discussed.

Dark atoms and puzzles of dark matter searches

International Journal of Modern Physics A, 2014

The nonbaryonic dark matter of the universe is assumed to consist of new stable forms of matter. Their stability reflects symmetry of micro world and particle candidates for cosmological dark matter are the lightest particles that bear new conserved quantum numbers. Dark matter candidates can appear in the new families of quarks and leptons and the existence of new stable charged leptons and quarks is possible, if they are hidden in elusive "dark atoms." Such possibility, strongly restricted by the constraints on anomalous isotopes of light elements, is not excluded in scenarios that predict stable double charged particles. The excessive -2 charged particles are bound in these scenarios with primordial helium in O -helium "atoms," maintaining specific nuclear-interacting form of the dark matter, which may provide an interesting solution for the puzzles of the direct dark matter searches.