Sfermions and gauginos in a Lorentz-violating theory

Abstract

In Lorentz-violating supergravity, sfermions have spin 1/2 and other unusual properties. If the dark matter consists of such particles, there is a natural explanation for the apparent absence of cusps and other small scale structure: The Lorentz-violating dark matter is cold because of the large particle mass, but still moves at nearly the speed of light. Although the R-parity of a sfermion, gaugino, or gravitino is +1 in the present theory, these particles have an "S-parity'' which implies that the LSP is stable and that they are produced in pairs. On the other hand, they can be clearly distinguished from the superpartners of standard supersymmetry by their highly unconventional properties.