The 3-3-1 model: a natural framework for sub-MeV dark matter

A

bstract

We show that the SU(3) _C × SU(3) _L × U(1) _N model with right-handed neutrinos naturally accommodates a viable sub-MeV dark matter (DM) candidate realized as pseudo-Goldstone boson that acquires tiny mass through gravitational effects. The observed relic abundance is obtained via freeze-in in a low-reheating temperature scenario, without requiring tiny couplings while allowing the underlying matter, scalar and gauge sectors to remain at the TeV scale, thereby keeping the model testable at current and future collider experiments.