Effective field theory interpretation of searches for dark matter annihilation in the Sun with the IceCube Neutrino Observatory

2014/11/27 by Jan Blumenthal, P. Gretskov, Pavel Gretskov +3
Physics and Astronomy · #Annihilation #Astrophysics #Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena #Cosmology #Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena #Dark energy #Dark matter #Effective field theory #Field (mathematics) #Interpretation (philosophy) #Large Hadron Collider #Neutrino #Particle physics #Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies #Physics #Physics beyond the Standard Model #Scalar field dark matter #Spin (aerodynamics) #Weakly interacting massive particles #astro-ph.HE #hep-ph

paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevd.91.035002

published as Phys. Rev. D 91, 035002 (2015) · 16 pages, 6 figures; Added references in v2

arxiv created 2014/11/27 · openalex publication_date 2015/02/03 · arxiv updated 2015/03/04 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

We present a model-independent interpretation of searches for dark matter annihilation in the Sun using an effective field theory approach. We identify a set of effective operators contributing to spin-dependent scattering of dark matter with protons in the nonrelativistic limit and explore simple new physics models which would give rise to such operators. Using the limits on the spin-dependent scattering cross-section set by the IceCube collaboration in their search for dark matter annihilation in the Sun, we derive limits on effective couplings and corresponding masses of mediating particles. We show that the effective field theory interpretation of the IceCube searches provides constraints on dark matter complementary to those from relic density observations and searches at the LHC. Finally, we discuss the impact of astrophysical uncertainties on our results.

Citations

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