Light stops, blind spots, and isospin violation in the MSSM

Abstract

In the framework of the MSSM, we examine several simplified models where only a few superpartners are light. This allows us to study WIMP--nucleus scattering in terms of a handful of MSSM parameters and thereby scrutinize their impact on dark matter direct-detection experiments. Focusing on spin-independent WIMP--nucleon scattering, we derive simplified, analytic expressions for the Wilson coefficients associated with Higgs and squark exchange. We utilize these results to study the complementarity of constraints due to direct-detection, flavor, and collider experiments. We also identify parameter configurations that produce (almost) vanishing cross sections. In the proximity of these so-called blind spots, we find that the amount of isospin violation may be much larger than typically expected in the MSSM. This feature is a generic property of parameter regions where cross sections are suppressed, and highlights the importance of a careful analysis of the nucleon matrix elements and the associated hadronic uncertainties. This becomes especially relevant once the increased sensitivity of future direct-detection experiments corners the MSSM into these regions of parameter space.

38 pages, 15 figures. v2: expanded text in Sec. 3 concerning relic density and (g-2)_mu constraints, clarified text on isospin violation. Fig. 1 is new, minor changes to Figs. 3,4,10. References added, journal version

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• Generalized Blind Spots for Dark Matter Direct Detection in the 2HDM
• Doubly Blind Spots in Scalar Dark Matter Models
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• Probing the Scalar WIMP-Pion Coupling with the first LUX-ZEPLIN data
• Exploring the Null Results in the Direct Detection Experiments, $(g-2{)}_{\ell }$ and Neutrino Mass in an Extended $U(1{)}_{L_{\mu }-L_{\tau }}$ Model Constrained through the $Z\to {\ell }^{+}{\ell }^{-}$ Decays
• The Generic $U(1{)}_X$ Models Inspired from $SO(10)$