Interaction Between Dark Matter and Baryons: Non-Perturbative Effects, Experimental Bounds, and Solution to the 7Li Problem

We propose a scenario of interaction between dark matter (DM) and baryons where non-perturbative effects and resonant scattering play a key role, which can result in cross section behavior that is very different from that found in traditional weakly-coupled models. We then test the compatibility of our model with direct detection experiments and other constraints, and discuss under what circumstances the 7Li problem may be solved in such scenario by breaking-up 7Be (7Li) through scattering with DM, thus reducing the predicted 7Li abundance to the observed value without affecting other successful predictions of BBN. An example of a DM candidate which can exhibit such non-perturbative effects is the sexaquark, a conjectured stable state composed of six quarks.