Light NMSSM Neutralino Dark Matter in the Wake of CDMS II and a 126 GeV Higgs

Understand

Recent results from the Cryogenic Dark Matter Search (CDMS) experiment have renewed interest in light dark matter with a large spin-independent neutralino-nucleon scattering cross-section.

• Here, we examine the regions of the Next-to-MSSM (NMSSM) capable of producing a light neutralino with a large spin-independent scattering cross-section, with the scattering mediated by a very light singlet-like scalar, and a 126 GeV Standard Model-like Higgs consistent with the LHC results, while satisfying other relevant cosmological, flavor and collider constraints.
• We focus on two different scenarios for annihilation in the early universe, namely annihilation mediated by (1) a light scalar or by (2) a light pseudo-scalar.
• As expected, both cases are highly constrained.