Decaying scalar dark matter in the minimal left-right symmetric model

In the minimal left-right symmetric theory, the dark matter candidate is usually ascribed to the lightest right-handed neutrino. Here we present an alternative decaying dark matter candidate in this model in terms of the lightest neutral scalar from the <a:math xmlns:a="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><a:mi>S</a:mi><a:mi>U</a:mi><a:mo stretchy="false">(</a:mo><a:mn>2</a:mn><a:msub><a:mo stretchy="false">)</a:mo><a:mi>R</a:mi></a:msub></a:math>-triplet field. This setup requires a vast hierarchy between the scalar mass and the left-right symmetry breaking scale, which renders the scalar dark matter sufficiently stable on cosmological time scales. The stability of the dark matter imposes constraints on the right-handed neutrino mass, which has consequences for the neutrino mass generation, as well as for leptogenesis. Although somewhat fine-tuned, it provides a very economical scenario wherein the minimal left-right model can simultaneously explain dark matter, neutrino masses, and the matter-antimatter asymmetry of the Universe.