Distinguishing Dynamical Dark Matter at the LHC

Understand

Dynamical dark matter (DDM) is a new framework for dark-matter physics in which the dark sector comprises an ensemble of individual component fields which collectively conspire to act in ways that transcend those normally associated with dark matter.

• Because of its non-trivial structure, this DDM ensemble --- unlike most traditional dark-matter candidates --- cannot be characterized in terms of a single mass, decay width, or set of scattering cross-sections, but must instead be described by parameters which describe the collective behavior of its constituents.
• Likewise, the components of such an ensemble need not be stable so long as lifetimes are balanced against cosmological abundances across the ensemble as a whole.
• In this paper, we investigate the prospects for identifying a DDM ensemble at the LHC and for distinguishing such a dark-matter candidate from the candidates characteristic of traditional dark-matter models.