Pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone Dark Matter in $SU(7)$ Grand Unification

Abstract

We propose a grand unified theory (GUT) pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone boson (pNGB) dark matter (DM) model based on $SU(7)$ gauge symmetry. In the GUT model, the Standard Model (SM) gauge symmetry $G_{\rm SM} := SU(3)_C\times SU(2)_L\times U(1)_Y$ and the ``dark'' gauge symmetry $SU(2)_D$ are unified, where the $SU(2)_D$ symmetry plays an important role in the stability of DM. The unification of SM fermions and dark sector fermions is partially realized. The gauge symmetry $SU(7)$ is spontaneously broken to $SU(5)\times SU(2)\times U(1)$ gauge symmetry at the GUT scale by the nonvanishing vacuum expectation values of an $SU(7)$ adjoint scalar field. The symmetry is further broken to $G_{\rm SM}\times SU(2)_D$ at an intermediate scale. Furthermore, the $SU(2)_D$ symmetry is broken by the $SU(2)_D$ doublet and triplet scalar fields at the TeV scale. In the pNGB DM model based on $G_{\rm SM}\times SU(2)_D$, the residual global $U(1)_V$ dark custodial symmetry guarantees DM stability. On the other hand, in the $SU(7)$ pNGB DM model, this global symmetry is explicitly broken by the Yukawa interaction and the effective Majorana mass terms. To maintain $U(1)_V$ symmetry and thus the DM stability, we need to tune Yukawa coupling constants and cubic scalar couplings at high accuracy. We find that the allowed DM mass region is quite restricted as the gauge coupling constant of $SU(2)_D$ is determined by the condition of the gauge coupling unification. To satisfy gauge coupling unification and the current experimental constraint on proton lifetime, we find that three generations of $SU(3)_C$ adjoint fermions and another three generations of $SU(2)_L$ adjoint fermions with the intermediate mass scale are required. We also find that there is no other solution to satisfy simultaneously the gauge coupling unification and the proton decay constraint if one assumes the other symmetry breaking schemes.