Inert doublet model in light of LHC Run I and astrophysical data

Abstract

We discuss the parameter space of the inert doublet model, a two Higgs doublet model with a dark matter candidate. An extensive set of theoretical and experimental constraints on this model is considered, where both collider as well as astroparticle data limits, the latter in the form of dark matter relic density as well as direct detection, are taken into account. We discuss the effects of these constraints on the parameter space of the model. In particular, we do not require the inert doublet model to provide the full dark matter content of the Universe, which opens up additional regions in the parameter space accessible at collider experiments. The combination of all constraints leads to a relatively strong mass degeneracy in the dark scalar sector for masses ≳200  GeV, and to a minimal scale ∼45  GeV for the dark scalar masses. We also observe a stringent mass hierarchy MH±>MA. We propose benchmark points and benchmark planes for dark scalar pair production for the current LHC run being in compliance with all theoretical as well as experimental bounds.