Hidden sector dark matter from a Z2 double of the visible universe with positive Higgs potential quadratic term

In this paper, we propose that the universe contains two sectors with identical sets of particles and gauge interactions, coupling through gravitation, which differ by a [Formula: see text] reflection in the sign of the quadratic term in their Higgs potentials. In the visible sector, the quadratic term in the Higgs potential has the negative sign of the Standard Model, giving a “Mexican hat” Higgs potential and a vacuum with spontaneous symmetry breaking and a nonvanishing Higgs vacuum expectation. In the dark sector, the quadratic term in the Higgs potential has the normal positive sign, giving a monotonic Higgs potential with a symmetric vacuum and vanishing dark Higgs vacuum expectation. Existing studies of “Higgless” theories then suggest that the least massive baryon in the dark sector will be a candidate for a self-interacting WIMP-like dark matter particle.