We propose a new realization of strongly interacting massive particles (SIMP) as self-interacting dark matter, where SIMPs couple to the Standard Model sector through an axion-like particle. Our model gets over major obstacles accompanying the original SIMP model, such as a missing mechanism of kinetically equilibrating SIMPs with the SM plasma as well as marginal perturbativity of the chiral Lagrangian density. Remarkably, the parameter region realizing $\sigma_{ \rm self}/m_{ \rm DM} \simeq 0.1 \textrm{ --} 1 \, { \rm cm}^{ 2}/{ \rm g}$ is within the reach of future beam dump experiments such as the Search for Hidden Particles (SHiP) experiment.
Categories: hep-ph astro-ph.CO