Search for light dark matter in rare meson decays
Abstract
Current dark matter direct detection experiments have low sensitivity to sub-GeV dark matter. In this work, we demonstrate that rare B and K meson decays with missing energy in the final state can serve as efficient probes in this mass range. We analyze a generic Z ′ portal dark matter model and derive upper limits on its parameters from experimental bounds on the rare B and K meson decays. Our results show that such meson decay processes provide complementary constraints to current direct detection experiments for sub-GeV dark matter, particularly for interaction forms mediated by dark matter momentum-dependent operators.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Quantum Chromodynamics and Particle Interactions
Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena
Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Physical review. D/Physical review. D.
- Publisher
- American Physical Society (APS)
- Volume
- 113
- Issue
- 3
- Publication date
- 30 January 2026
- Language
- EN