Dark matter in the type Ib seesaw model

We consider a minimal type Ib seesaw model where the effective neutrino mass operator involves two different Higgs doublets, and the two right-handed neutrinos form a heavy Dirac mass. We propose a minimal dark matter extension of this model, in which the Dirac heavy neutrino is coupled to a dark Dirac fermion and a dark complex scalar field, both charged under a discrete Z(2) symmetry, where the lighter of the two is a dark matter candidate. Focussing on the fermionic dark matter case, we explore the parameter space of the seesaw Yukawa couplings, the neutrino portal couplings and dark scalar to dark fermion mass ratio, where correct dark matter relic abundance can be produced by the freeze-in mechanism. By considering the mixing between the standard model neutrinos and the heavy neutrino, we build a connection between the dark matter production and current laboratory experiments ranging from collider to lepton flavour violating experiments. For a GeV mass heavy neutrino, the parameters related to dark matter production are constrained by the experimental results directly and can be further tested by future experiments such as SHiP.

Automated summary

This paper presents a minimal type Ib seesaw model and proposes an extension introducing dark matter into the model, exploring the parameter space for dark matter production. The connection between dark matter production and laboratory experiments is discussed, especially in relation to the mixing between standard model neutrinos and heavy neutrinos. Parameters related to dark matter production are constrained by experimental results and can be tested further in future experiments such as SHiP.