Reuse & Permissions

It is not necessary to obtain permission to reuse this article or its components as it is available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI are maintained. Please note that some figures may have been included with permission from other third parties. It is your responsibility to obtain the proper permission from the rights holder directly for these figures.

Export citation

Export citation

Choose format for download:

Download Citation
  • Open Access

Resonant ALP-portal dark matter annihilation as a solution to the B±→K±νν¯ excess

Kewen Ding1,*, Ying Li1,†, Xuewen Liu1,‡, Yu Liu2,§, Chih-Ting Lu3,4,∥, and Bin Zhu1,¶

  • *Contact author: dlsc52000@s.ytu.edu.cn
  • †Contact author: liying@ytu.edu.cn
  • ‡Contact author: xuewenliu@ytu.edu.cn
  • §Contact author: liuyu2020@s.ytu.edu.cn
  • ∥Contact author: ctlu@njnu.edu.cn
  • Contact author: zhubin@mail.nankai.edu.cn

Phys. Rev. D 112, 115034 – Published 19 December, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/47v4-bn2g

Abstract

The Belle II collaboration recently reported a 2.7σ excess in the rare decay B±→K±νν¯, potentially signaling new physics. We propose an axionlike particle (ALP)-portal dark matter (DM) framework to explain this anomaly while satisfying the observed DM relic abundance. By invoking a resonant annihilation mechanism (ma∼2mχ), we demonstrate that the ALP-mediated interactions between the Standard Model and DM sectors simultaneously account for the B±→K±νν¯ anomaly and thermal freeze-out dynamics. Two distinct scenarios—long-lived ALPs decaying outside detectors (displaced diphotons) and ALPs decaying invisibly to DM pairs (missing energy)—are examined. While the displaced diphotons scenario is excluded by kaon decay bounds (K±→π±+inv.), the invisible decay channel remains unconstrained and aligns with Belle II’s missing energy signature. Using the coupled Boltzmann equation formalism, we rigorously incorporate early kinetic decoupling effects, revealing deviations up to a factor of 20 from traditional relic density predictions in resonance regions. For the missing energy scenario, the viable parameter space features ALP–Standard Model (SM) and ALP-DM couplings: gaWW(gaγγ)∈(7.13×10−5–9.60×10−5)  GeV−1 (from B±→K±a) and gaχχ∈(7.12×10−5–7.73×10−3)  GeV−1 (for resonant annihilation), accommodating ALP masses ma∈(0.6,4.8)  GeV. Therefore, this work establishes the ALP portal as a viable bridge between the B±→K±νν¯ anomaly and thermal DM production, emphasizing precision calculations of thermal decoupling in resonance regimes.

View figure in article

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Article Text

References (116)

  1. P. W. Graham, I. G. Irastorza, S. K. Lamoreaux, A. Lindner, and K. A. van Bibber, Annu. Rev. Nucl. Part. Sci. 65, 485 (2015).
  2. K. Choi, S. H. Im, and C. Sub Shin, Annu. Rev. Nucl. Part. Sci. 71, 225 (2021).
  3. R. D. Peccei and H. R. Quinn, Phys. Rev. Lett. 38, 1440 (1977).
  4. S. Weinberg, Phys. Rev. Lett. 40, 223 (1978).
  5. F. Wilczek, Phys. Rev. Lett. 40, 279 (1978).
  6. J. E. Kim, Phys. Rev. Lett. 43, 103 (1979).
  7. J. Preskill, M. B. Wise, and F. Wilczek, Phys. Lett. 120B, 127 (1983).
  8. L. F. Abbott and P. Sikivie, Phys. Lett. 120B, 133 (1983).
  9. M. Dine and W. Fischler, Phys. Lett. 120B, 137 (1983).
  10. R. Blumenhagen and E. Plauschinn, Phys. Lett. B 736, 482 (2014).
  11. T. Kobayashi and L. Ubaldi, J. High Energy Phys. 09 (2020) 052.
  12. E. I. Guendelman and D. A. Owen, Phys. Lett. B 276, 108 (1992).
  13. V. Domcke, Y. Ema, K. Mukaida, and M. Yamada, J. High Energy Phys. 08 (2020) 096.
  14. R. T. Co, N. Fernandez, A. Ghalsasi, K. Harigaya, and J. Shelton, Phys. Rev. D 110, 083534 (2024).
  15. Y. Nomura and J. Thaler, Phys. Rev. D 79, 075008 (2009).
  16. A. Bharucha, F. Brümmer, N. Desai, and S. Mutzel, J. High Energy Phys. 02 (2023) 141.
  17. S. Allen, A. Blackburn, O. Cardenas, Z. Messenger, N. H. Nguyen, and B. Shuve, Phys. Rev. D 110, 095010 (2024).
  18. Y. Hochberg, E. Kuflik, R. McGehee, H. Murayama, and K. Schutz, Phys. Rev. D 98, 115031 (2018).
  19. S. H. Im and K. S. Jeong, Phys. Lett. B 799, 135044 (2019).
  20. D. K. Ghosh, A. Ghoshal, and S. Jeesun, J. High Energy Phys. 01 (2024) 026.
  21. P. Arias, B. Diaz Saez, and J. Jaeckel, J. Cosmol. Astropart. Phys. 06 (2025) 060.
  22. W.-L. Guo and Y.-L. Wu, Phys. Rev. D 79, 055012 (2009).
  23. M. Laine, J. High Energy Phys. 01 (2023) 157.
  24. H. M. Lee, M. Park, and W.-I. Park, Phys. Rev. D 86, 103502 (2012).
  25. A. Ibarra, H. M. Lee, S. López Gehler, W.-I. Park, and M. Pato, J. Cosmol. Astropart. Phys. 05 (2013) 016; 03 (2016) E01.
  26. T. Klangburam and C. Pongkitivanichkul, J. High Energy Phys. 10 (2024) 145.
  27. M. Yang, Z.-Q. Guo, X.-Y. Luo, Z.-Q. Shen, Z.-Q. Xia, C.-T. Lu, Y.-L. S. Tsai, and Y.-Z. Fan, J. High Energy Phys. 10 (2024) 094.
  28. S. Biswas, A. Chatterjee, E. Gabrielli, and B. Mele, Phys. Rev. D 100, 115040 (2019).
  29. G. Armando, P. Panci, J. Weiss, and R. Ziegler, Phys. Rev. D 109, 055029 (2024).
  30. K. Jodłowski, J. High Energy Phys. 08 (2025) 022.
  31. I. Adachi et al. (Belle-II Collaboration), Phys. Rev. D 109, 112006 (2024).
  32. P. Athron, R. Martinez, and C. Sierra, J. High Energy Phys. 02 (2024) 121.
  33. R. Bause, H. Gisbert, and G. Hiller, Phys. Rev. D 109, 015006 (2024).
  34. L. Allwicher, D. Becirevic, G. Piazza, S. Rosauro-Alcaraz, and O. Sumensari, Phys. Lett. B 848, 138411 (2024).
  35. M. Abdughani and Y. Reyimuaji, Phys. Rev. D 110, 055013 (2024).
  36. X.-G. He, X.-D. Ma, and G. Valencia, Phys. Rev. D 109, 075019 (2024).
  37. A. Datta, D. Marfatia, and L. Mukherjee, Phys. Rev. D 109, L031701 (2024).
  38. W. Altmannshofer, A. Crivellin, H. Haigh, G. Inguglia, and J. M. Camalich, Phys. Rev. D 109, 075008 (2024).
  39. D. McKeen, J. N. Ng, and D. Tuckler, Phys. Rev. D 109, 075006 (2024).
  40. Z. S. Wang, H. K. Dreiner, and J. Y. Günther, Eur. Phys. J. C 85, 66 (2025).
  41. K. Fridell, M. Ghosh, T. Okui, and K. Tobioka, Phys. Rev. D 109, 115006 (2024).
  42. S.-Y. Ho, J. Kim, and P. Ko, Phys. Rev. D 111, 055029 (2025).
  43. F.-Z. Chen, Q. Wen, and F. Xu, Eur. Phys. J. C 84, 1012 (2024).
  44. E. Gabrielli, L. Marzola, K. Müürsepp, and M. Raidal, Eur. Phys. J. C 84, 460 (2024).
  45. B.-F. Hou, X.-Q. Li, M. Shen, Y.-D. Yang, and X.-B. Yuan, J. High Energy Phys. 06 (2024) 172.
  46. C.-H. Chen and C.-W. Chiang, Phys. Rev. D 110, 075036 (2024).
  47. X.-G. He, X.-D. Ma, M. A. Schmidt, G. Valencia, and R. R. Volkas, J. High Energy Phys. 07 (2024) 168.
  48. P. D. Bolton, S. Fajfer, J. F. Kamenik, and M. Novoa-Brunet, Phys. Rev. D 110, 055001 (2024).
  49. D. Marzocca, M. Nardecchia, A. Stanzione, and C. Toni, Eur. Phys. J. C 84, 1217 (2024).
  50. S. Rosauro-Alcaraz and L. P. S. Leal, Eur. Phys. J. C 84, 795 (2024).
  51. C. S. Kim, D. Sahoo, and K. N. Vishnudath, Eur. Phys. J. C 84, 882 (2024).
  52. C. Hati, J. Leite, N. Nath, and J. W. F. Valle, Phys. Rev. D 111, 015038 (2025).
  53. L. Kolay and S. Nandi, J. High Energy Phys. 10 (2024) 008.
  54. L. Allwicher, M. Bordone, G. Isidori, G. Piazza, and A. Stanzione, Phys. Lett. B 861, 139295 (2025).
  55. D. Bečirević, S. Fajfer, N. Košnik, and L. Pavičić, Phys. Lett. B 861, 139285 (2025).
  56. W. Altmannshofer and S. Roy, Phys. Rev. D 111, 075029 (2025).
  57. A. J. Buras and P. Stangl, Eur. Phys. J. C 85, 519 (2025).
  58. Q.-Y. Hu, Eur. Phys. J. C 85, 556 (2025).
  59. C.-Q. Zhang, J. Sun, Z.-P. Xing, and R.-L. Zhu, Phys. Rev. D 111, 113003 (2025).
  60. L. Calibbi, T. Li, L. Mukherjee, and M. A. Schmidt, Phys. Rev. D 112, 075020 (2025).
  61. J.-P. Lee, arXiv:2502.06370.
  62. X.-G. He, X.-D. Ma, J. Tandean, and G. Valencia, J. High Energy Phys. 07 (2025) 078.
  63. A. Berezhnoy, W. Lucha, and D. Melikhov, Phys. Rev. D 111, 075035 (2025).
  64. P. D. Bolton, S. Fajfer, J. F. Kamenik, and M. Novoa-Brunet, Phys. Rev. D 112, 035010 (2025).
  65. T. M. Aliev, A. Elpe, I. Turan, and L. Selbuz, Phys. Rev. D 112, 015025 (2025).
  66. C.-H. Chen, C.-W. Chiang, and L. M. G. de la Vega, J. High Energy Phys. 09 (2025) 055.
  67. L. Kolay and S. Nandi, arXiv:2503.15609.
  68. Y.-N. Wang, X.-C. Duan, T.-P. Tang, Z. Wang, and Y.-L. S. Tsai, J. Cosmol. Astropart. Phys. 08 (2025) 059.
  69. G. Bélanger, S. Chakraborti, C. Delaunay, and M. Jomain, Phys. Rev. D 112, 095039 (2025).
  70. L. G. van den Aarssen, T. Bringmann, and Y. C. Goedecke, Phys. Rev. D 85, 123512 (2012).
  71. T. Binder, T. Bringmann, M. Gustafsson, and A. Hryczuk, Phys. Rev. D 96, 115010 (2017); 101, 099901(E) (2020).
  72. F. Brümmer, J. High Energy Phys. 01 (2020) 113.
  73. K. Ala-Mattinen and K. Kainulainen, J. Cosmol. Astropart. Phys. 09 (2020) 040.
  74. T. Abe, Phys. Rev. D 102, 035018 (2020).
  75. T. Binder, T. Bringmann, M. Gustafsson, and A. Hryczuk, Eur. Phys. J. C 81, 577 (2021).
  76. B. Zhu and X. Liu, Sci. China Phys. Mech. Astron. 65, 231011 (2022).
  77. A. Hryczuk and M. Laletin, J. High Energy Phys. 06 (2021) 026.
  78. T. Abe, Phys. Rev. D 104, 035025 (2021).
  79. Y. Du, F. Huang, H.-L. Li, Y.-Z. Li, and J.-H. Yu, J. Cosmol. Astropart. Phys. 04 (2022) 012.
  80. K. Ala-Mattinen, M. Heikinheimo, K. Kainulainen, and K. Tuominen, Phys. Rev. D 105, 123005 (2022).
  81. A. Hryczuk and M. Laletin, Phys. Rev. D 106, 023007 (2022).
  82. Y. Liu, X. Liu, and B. Zhu, Phys. Rev. D 107, 115009 (2023).
  83. A. Aboubrahim, M. Klasen, and L. P. Wiggering, J. Cosmol. Astropart. Phys. 08 (2023) 075.
  84. X.-C. Duan, R. Ramos, and Y.-L. S. Tsai, Phys. Rev. D 110, 063535 (2024).
  85. P. Gondolo and G. Gelmini, Nucl. Phys. B360, 145 (1991).
  86. E. Izaguirre, T. Lin, and B. Shuve, Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 111802 (2017).
  87. H. Georgi, D. B. Kaplan, and L. Randall, Phys. Lett. 169B, 73 (1986).
  88. I. Brivio, M. B. Gavela, L. Merlo, K. Mimasu, J. M. No, R. del Rey, and V. Sanz, Eur. Phys. J. C 77, 572 (2017).
  89. J. Ren, D. Wang, L. Wu, J. M. Yang, and M. Zhang, J. High Energy Phys. 11 (2021) 138.
  90. C.-T. Lu, X. Luo, and X. Wei, Chin. Phys. C 47, 103102 (2023).
  91. K. Cheung and C. J. Ouseph, Phys. Rev. D 108, 035003 (2023).
  92. M. J. Dolan, T. Ferber, C. Hearty, F. Kahlhoefer, and K. Schmidt-Hoberg, J. High Energy Phys. 12 (2017) 094; 03 (2021) 190(E).
  93. S. Gola, S. Mandal, and N. Sinha, Int. J. Mod. Phys. A 37, 2250131 (2022).
  94. F. Acanfora, R. Franceschini, A. Mastroddi, and D. Redigolo, J. High Energy Phys. 11 (2024) 156.
  95. T. Ferber, A. Filimonova, R. Schäfer, and S. Westhoff, J. High Energy Phys. 04 (2023) 131.
  96. N. Gubernari, M. Reboud, D. van Dyk, and J. Virto, J. High Energy Phys. 12 (2023) 153; 01 (2025) 125(E).
  97. M. Bauer, M. Neubert, S. Renner, M. Schnubel, and A. Thamm, J. High Energy Phys. 09 (2022) 056.
  98. J. P. Lees et al. (BABAR Collaboration, Phys. Rev. Lett. 128, 131802 (2022).
  99. D. Wang, L. Wu, J. M. Yang, and M. Zhang, Phys. Rev. D 104, 095016 (2021).
  100. W. G. Parrott, C. Bouchard, and C. T. H. Davies (HPQCD Collaboration), Phys. Rev. D 107, 014511 (2023); 107, 119903(E) (2023).
  101. M. Abumusabh, G. Dujany, D. Guadagnoli, A. Iohner, and C. Toni, arXiv:2510.18953.
  102. T. Binder, L. Covi, A. Kamada, H. Murayama, T. Takahashi, and N. Yoshida, J. Cosmol. Astropart. Phys. 11 (2016) 043.
  103. E. Bertschinger, Phys. Rev. D 74, 063509 (2006).
  104. T. Bringmann and S. Hofmann, J. Cosmol. Astropart. Phys. 04 (2007) 016; 03 (2016) E02.
  105. T. Bringmann, New J. Phys. 11, 105027 (2009).
  106. P. Gondolo, J. Hisano, and K. Kadota, Phys. Rev. D 86, 083523 (2012).
  107. N. Aghanim et al. (Planck Collaboration), Astron. Astrophys. 641, A6 (2020); 652, C4(E) (2021).
  108. M. Duerr, T. Ferber, C. Garcia-Cely, C. Hearty, and K. Schmidt-Hoberg, J. High Energy Phys. 04 (2021) 146.
  109. W. Altmannshofer et al. (Belle-II Collaboration), Prog. Theor. Exp. Phys. 2019, 123C01 (2019); 2020, 029201(E) (2020).
  110. E. Cortina Gil et al. (NA62 Collaboration), J. High Energy Phys. 06 (2021) 093.
  111. E. Cortina Gil et al. (NA62 Collaboration), J. High Energy Phys. 02 (2021) 201.
  112. J. Jaeckel and M. Spannowsky, Phys. Lett. B 753, 482 (2016).
  113. R. Mammen Abraham et al. (FASER Collaboration), J. High Energy Phys. 01 (2025) 199.
  114. J. P. Lees et al. (BABAR Collaboration, Phys. Rev. Lett. 119, 131804 (2017).
  115. J. P. Lees et al. (BABAR Collaboration, Phys. Rev. D 87, 112005 (2013).
  116. J. Grygier et al. (Belle Collaboration), Phys. Rev. D 96, 091101 (2017); 97, 099902(A) (2018).

Outline

Information

Sign In to Your Journals Account

Filter

Filter

Article Lookup

Enter a citation