Dark Phoenix: dark matter relic from its own decay

Abstract

We propose a novel mechanism for generating correct relic of dark matter (DM) which otherwise gets thermally overproduced from the conventional freeze-out mechanism. The mechanism, dubbed as {\it Dark Phoenix}, relies on a transient decay window for DM after its freeze-out which brings its relic within observed limits. Due to finite-temperature effects on masses, DM $ψ$ becomes heavier than its dark sector partner $ϕ$ in this window allowing it to decay. The decay of DM then stops after $ϕ$ gets a sudden jump in its mass from a first-order phase transition (FOPT) driven by another scalar $η$. The dark sector partner $ϕ$, assumed to be a charged scalar, undergoes sufficient pair annihilation during this epoch such that its late decay into DM does not overproduce the latter again. While direct-detection rates of DM remains suppressed due to small couplings, the charged scalar $ϕ$ can have interesting signatures like long-lived charged track at colliders. The associated FOPT can also lead to observable gravitational waves at future experiments like LISA.