Theory

Theory seminar: Juri Smirnov

Europe/Amsterdam
Nikhef

Nikhef

Description

Title: 'New Search Strategies for Complex Dark Sectors'

Abstract: Despite significant experimental sensitivity to massive, weakly interacting, point-like particles at the electroweak mass scale, dark matter has not been found yet. This could hint at a more complex dark sector with multiple states or composite dark particles, much like the complexity of the standard model. I will discuss effects of bound-state formation in a dark sector. I will demonstrate that formation of unstable bound states, as well as the existence of stable composite states can have dramatic effects on the phenomenology of a dark sector. In particular, I will show that new signals can arise from the bound-state formation processes that allow testing the scenario with upcoming experiments. Finally, I will discuss a new search strategy for dark sectors that where initially in thermal equilibrium with the standard model, by using temperature data from extrasolar planets.