Eur. Phys. J. C (2010) 68: 523-537
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-010-1356-9

Regular Article - Theoretical Physics

Fine-tuning favors mixed axion/axino cold dark matter over neutralinos in the minimal supergravity model

Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73019, USA

^* e-mail: baer@nhn.ou.edu

Received: 26 January 2010
Revised: 21 May 2010
Published online: 18 June 2010

Abstract

Over almost all of minimal supergravity (mSUGRA or CMSSM) model parameter space, there is a large overabundance of neutralino cold dark matter (CDM). We find that the allowed regions of mSUGRA parameter space which match the measured abundance of CDM in the universe are highly fine-tuned. If instead we invoke the Peccei–Quinn–Weinberg–Wilczek solution to the strong CP problem, then the SUSY CDM may consist of an axion/axino admixture with an axino mass of order the MeV scale, and where mixed axion/axino or mainly axion CDM seems preferred. In this case, fine-tuning of the relic density is typically much lower, showing that axion/axino CDM (CDM) is to be preferred in the paradigm model for SUSY phenomenology. For mSUGRA with CDM, quite different regions of parameter space are now DM-favored as compared to the case of neutralino DM. Thus, rather different SUSY signatures are expected at the LHC in the case of mSUGRA with CDM, as compared to mSUGRA with neutralino CDM.