Toward a Direct Detection of the Spin of Dark Matter

ORAL

Abstract

Higher spin (s > 2) particles appear in many areas of physics, but have recently been of growing interest in the context of cosmology. In this talk, I will highlight recent work studying higher spin particles as a dark matter candidate. I will discuss how higher spin particles with a wide range of masses and spins could be produced in the early universe via gravitational production during inflation to account for the dark matter we observe today. Then I will show how directional direct detection signatures can be used to differentiate between higher spin bosonic and fermionic dark matter as well as to determine the spin. Lastly, I will point towards future directions.

*The work of L.J. is supported in part by the Kavli Foundation by a Kavli Fellowship.

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Publication: arXiv: 2010.15125 (PLB)
arXiv: 2212.07442 (to be submitted to JHEP)

Presenters

  • Leah G. Jenks

    • University of Chicago

Authors

  • Leah G. Jenks

    • University of Chicago

  • Konstantinos Koutrolikos

    • University of Maryland

  • Evan McDonough

    • University of Winnipeg

  • Stephon Alexander

    • Brown University

  • Sylvester J Gates

    • University of Maryland