Using Energy Peaks to Count Dark Matter Particles in Decays

Understand

We study the determination of the symmetry that stabilizes a dark matter (DM) candidate produced at colliders.

• Our question is motivated per se, and by several alternative symmetries that appear in models that provide a DM particle.
• To this end, we devise a strategy to determine whether a heavy mother particle decays into one visible massless particle and one or two DM particles.
• The counting of DM particles in these decays is relevant to distinguish the minimal choice of Z_2, from a Z_3, stabilization symmetry, under which the heavy particle and the DM are charged and the visible particle is not.