Disformal scalars as dark matter candidates: Branon phenomenology
  Scalar particles coupled to the Standard Model fields through a disformal
coupling arise in different theories, such as massive gravity or brane-world
models. We will review the main phenomenology associated with such particles.
Distinctive disformal signatures could be measured at colliders and with
astrophysical observations. The phenomenological relevance of the disformal
coupling demands the introduction of a set of symmetries, which may ensure the
stability of these new degrees of freedom. In such a case, they constitute
natural dark matter candidates since they are generally massive and weakly
coupled. We will illustrate these ideas by paying particular attention to the
branon case, since these questions arise naturally in brane-world models with
low tension, where they were first discussed.
