Neutralino Dark Matter in the NMSSM

Abstract

We analyze the direct detection of neutralino dark matter in the framework of the Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model. Taking into account all the available constraints from LEPII and Tevatron, including bounds from the muon anomalous magnetic moment and flavor constraint as $b \to s \gamma $, we compute the neutralino-nucleon cross section and compare the results with the sensitivity of dark matter detectors. We also study the relic abundance of neutralinos, comparing it with WMAP observations. We show that a light singlet-like Higgs can escape accelerator constraints allowing for scenarios with large cross sections, and a very interesting phenomenology.