LHC Bounds on UV-Complete Models of Dark Matter

TL;DR

This work investigates LHC constraints on UV-complete dark matter–quark interactions with collider-accessible mediators by classifying models into s- and t-channel categories and parametrizing them with $M_chi$, $M_phi$, and $g$ (with $M_star = M_phi/g$). Using ATLAS monojet + MET data, it derives 95% CL bounds on $M_star$ and translates these into direct-detection cross sections for several models, highlighting regions where heavy mediators reproduce contact-operator limits and regions where light mediators weaken bounds due to kinematic thresholds. The study shows resonant enhancement at $M_phi oughly 2 M_chi$ strengthens collider constraints, while mass-splitting effects shape sensitivity in other regions. It also reveals interference patterns in DT1/DT2 affecting spin-dependent and spin-independent channels, providing concrete cross-section formulas and comparisons to Xenon and CDMS limits to connect collider results to direct-detection prospects.

Abstract

We analyze the sensitivity of searches for dark matter in the jets and missing energy channel in the case where the particle mediating interactions between hadronic matter and DM is collider accessible. We consider all tree level UV completions of interactions between fermion DM and quarks which contribute to direct detection, and derive bounds which apply to elastic or inelastic scattering dark matter explanations of direct detection signals. We find that studies based on effective operators give robust bounds when the mediator is heavy enough to resonantly produce the final state in question.

Figures (10)

• Figure 1: Bounds on effective interaction strength $M_*=M_\phi/g$ for the operator DS1. Bounds are presented only for massless $\chi$, as all other bounds are weaker than our adopted perturbativity limit of $g<4\pi$. The red curve shows bounds resulting from the VeryHighPt analysis, and the black curve shows those resulting from the LowPt analysis.
• Figure 2: Bounds on effective interaction strength $M_*=M_\phi/g$ for the operator DS2. Note that the perturbativity constraint of $g<4\pi$ replaces bounds weaker than that constraint. The left figures show bounds resulting from the VeryHighPt analysis, and the right figures show those resulting from the LowPt analysis.
• Figure 3: Bounds on effective interaction strength $M_*=M_\phi/g$ for the operator DS3. Note that the perturbativity constraint of $g<4\pi$ replaces bounds weaker than that constraint. The left figures show bounds resulting from the VeryHighPt analysis, and the right figures show those resulting from the LowPt analysis.
• Figure 4:
• Figure 5: Bounds on effective interaction strength $M_*=M_\phi/g$ for the operator DT2. Note that the perturbativity constraint of $g<4\pi$ replaces bounds weaker than that constraint. The left figures show bounds resulting from the VeryHighPt analysis, and the right figures show those resulting from the LowPt analysis.