Multi component dark matter in a minimal model

Abstract We study a minimal $$\mathbb {Z}_2$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:msub> <mml:mi>Z</mml:mi> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn> </mml:msub> </mml:math> -symmetric extension of the Standard Model containing two singlet fermions and a singlet scalar that interact with the SM particles through the Higgs-portal. We identify regions of parameter space in which all three new particles are kinematically stable, giving rise to a multi component dark matter (DM) scenario. The parameter space consistent with the observed dark matter relic abundance are determined, and the contribution of each component to the total relic density is evaluated. While the DM–nucleon elastic scattering cross sections of the two fermionic dark matter components are loop-suppressed, the corresponding cross section of the scalar dark matter particle arises at tree level and is therefore expected to dominate. We find a viable region of the parameter space in which the scalar dark matter candidate with mass range of approximately 125–400 GeV, evades current direct detection (DD) bounds while contributing only a small fraction of the observed relic density. In contrast, the fermionic dark matter possesses a loop-suppressed DD cross section that lies below the neutrino floor and can constitute a substantial fraction of the total relic density.