Leptophilic scalar dark matter in U(1)$_{L_μ-L_τ}$: Evading direct detection and prospective neutron star heating
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arXiv
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| Formato: | Preprint |
| Publicado: |
2026
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| _version_ | 1866914361131401216 |
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| author | Cai, Chengfeng Zhang, Hong-Hao |
| author_facet | Cai, Chengfeng Zhang, Hong-Hao |
| contents | Leptophilic dark matter (DM) is a well-motivated thermal WIMP framework that can evade stringent nuclear-recoil searches while remaining testable via DM-induced heating of neutron stars (NS). In this work, we study leptophilic scalar DM in a $\mathrm{U(1)}_{L_μ-L_τ}$ gauge extension of the Standard Model, which provides a common leptophilic portal for all scenarios considered. To reproduce the observed relic abundance while suppressing direct-detection signals, we investigate three benchmark realizations: (i) a secluded DM scenario in which the relic density is set by annihilation into $\mathrm{U(1)}_{L_μ-L_τ}$ gauge bosons, and two pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone boson (pNGB) DM models based on (ii) an SO(4) symmetry and (iii) an SO(3) symmetry. In the SO(4) pNGB model, the DM mass arises at tree level from a soft breaking term, while the elastic scattering amplitude is suppressed by a symmetry-protected cancellation. In the SO(3) pNGB model, the DM mass is generated radiatively at one loop via the $\mathrm{U(1)}_{L_μ-L_τ}$ gauge interaction, and we show that this gauging preserves the same cancellation mechanism, maintaining compatibility with direct-detection null results. We perform a systematic parameter scan imposing relic density, direct- and indirect-detection, and neutrino trident constraints, and identify viable sub-TeV to TeV DM candidates. Assuming maximal capture in NSs, we find that the remaining parameter space can be tested by near-infrared observations of NSs, providing sensitivity complementary to terrestrial searches in regions that are currently weakly constrained. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2602_19958 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Leptophilic scalar dark matter in U(1)$_{L_μ-L_τ}$: Evading direct detection and prospective neutron star heating Cai, Chengfeng Zhang, Hong-Hao High Energy Physics - Phenomenology Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena Leptophilic dark matter (DM) is a well-motivated thermal WIMP framework that can evade stringent nuclear-recoil searches while remaining testable via DM-induced heating of neutron stars (NS). In this work, we study leptophilic scalar DM in a $\mathrm{U(1)}_{L_μ-L_τ}$ gauge extension of the Standard Model, which provides a common leptophilic portal for all scenarios considered. To reproduce the observed relic abundance while suppressing direct-detection signals, we investigate three benchmark realizations: (i) a secluded DM scenario in which the relic density is set by annihilation into $\mathrm{U(1)}_{L_μ-L_τ}$ gauge bosons, and two pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone boson (pNGB) DM models based on (ii) an SO(4) symmetry and (iii) an SO(3) symmetry. In the SO(4) pNGB model, the DM mass arises at tree level from a soft breaking term, while the elastic scattering amplitude is suppressed by a symmetry-protected cancellation. In the SO(3) pNGB model, the DM mass is generated radiatively at one loop via the $\mathrm{U(1)}_{L_μ-L_τ}$ gauge interaction, and we show that this gauging preserves the same cancellation mechanism, maintaining compatibility with direct-detection null results. We perform a systematic parameter scan imposing relic density, direct- and indirect-detection, and neutrino trident constraints, and identify viable sub-TeV to TeV DM candidates. Assuming maximal capture in NSs, we find that the remaining parameter space can be tested by near-infrared observations of NSs, providing sensitivity complementary to terrestrial searches in regions that are currently weakly constrained. |
| title | Leptophilic scalar dark matter in U(1)$_{L_μ-L_τ}$: Evading direct detection and prospective neutron star heating |
| topic | High Energy Physics - Phenomenology Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.19958 |