Browsing by Subject "Dark Matter"

Despite the continuous efforts to unveil the true nature of Dark Matter (DM), it still remains as a mystery. In this thesis we propose one model that can produce the correct relic abundance of DM in the current Universe, while fitting into the existing experimentally obtained constraints. In this model we add a singlet fermion, which is a not completely sterile right-handed neutrino, and a heavy real scalar singlet into the Standard Model of Particle Physics (SM) and carry out the relic density calculations. The DM candidate here is the singlet fermion, which acts as a thermally decoupled Weakly Interacting Massive Particle. Theoretical framework is laid out in detail. Special attention is given to obtaining the definition for relic abundance from Lee-Weinberg equation in terms of yield, and the decoupling temperature. It is found, that the usual way of handling the thermally averaged cross section appearing in these definitions is not suitable in this case. In fact, the usual approximations can only be done when thermally averaged cross section is almost linear in $s$, and this is a demand that very few models can satisfy. The correct way to treat the cross section by taking the expansion in terms of the relative velocity is presented with careful attention to detail. This methodology is then applied to the extension of the SM we introduced. Only tree-level processes are being considered. Cross sections are calculated for each possible process to obtain the total cross section needed for the DM relic density calculations. We present how the different free parameters in the theory affect the relic abundance and what masses are allowed for the right-handed neutrino to obtain. It is found out that the parameters in this model are heavily constrained. Yet the model is able to fit into the constraints obtained from branching ratio and direct detection (DD) experiments, while producing the correct relic density. This is true when the mixing angle $\theta$ is of the order $1 \times 10^{-4}$, and right-handed neutrino has the mass of exactly half of the mass of the heavy scalar or higher than the mass of the heavy scalar. It is proposed that allowing lepton mixing and adding a separate mass term for fermion in the model could make the model less restricted. Investigating this would be interesting thing to do in the future. However, the proposed DM candidate remains viable and the upcoming DD experiments will relatively soon reveal if the singlet fermion is the DM particle we are seeking.