The full Boltzmann hierarchy for dark matter-massive neutrino interactions

Mosbech, Markus R.; Bœhm, Céline; Hannestad, Steen; Mena, Olga; Stadler, Julia; Wong, Yvonne Y. Y.

doi:10.1088/1475-7516/2021/03/066

Cited by 43 publications

(79 citation statements)

References 116 publications

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“…A simple realization of this idea was found in Ref. [40], where the dark matter was coupled via a light mediator to right-handed neutrinos (see also [126][127][128][129][130][131][132][133]). For a large range of parameters, the dark matter scatters efficiently with the neutrinos for z < 1100 and produces a signal degenerate with a change to the neutrino mass.…”

Section: 10)mentioning

confidence: 97%

Cosmological Implications of a Neutrino Mass Detection

Green¹,

Meyers²

2021

Preprint

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The next generation of cosmological surveys are expected to measure a non-zero sum of neutrino masses, even down to the minimum value of 58 meV inferred from neutrino flavor oscillation. The implications of such a measurement for the physics of neutrinos have been well documented; in contrast, the cosmological implications of such a measurement have received less attention. In this paper, we explore the impact of a neutrino mass detection consistent with m ν = 58 meV for our understanding of the history and contents of the universe. We focus primarily on three key areas: the thermal history of the universe, clustering of matter on diverse scales, and the application to dark matter and dark sectors. First we show that a detection of non-zero neutrino mass would provide a unique connection between the cosmic neutrino background, which is detected gravitationally, and neutrinos measured on Earth. We then discuss how the consistency of a detection between multiple probes will impact our knowledge of structure formation. Finally, we show how these measurements can be interpreted as sub-percent level tests of dark sector physics.

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Section: 10)mentioning

confidence: 97%

Cosmological Implications of a Neutrino Mass Detection

Green¹,

Meyers²

2021

Preprint

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“…However, as already discussed in [21], when considering smaller scales, such as those relevant for Lyman-α probes, this approximation needs to be turned off, which can be accomplished in class by setting ncdm fluid approximation = 3. The validity of this approximation was also discussed recently in the context of other NCDM models, namely DM interacting with neutrinos, in [77].…”

Section: B Sommerfeld Enhancement and Bound State Effectsmentioning

confidence: 82%

Lyman-$α$ constraints on freeze-in and superWIMPs

Decant,

Heisig,

Hooper

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Dark matter (DM) from freeze-in or superWIMP production is well known to imprint non-cold DM signatures on cosmological observables. We derive constraints from Lyman-α forest observations for both cases, basing ourselves on a reinterpretation of the existing Lyman-α limits on thermal warm DM. We exclude DM masses below 15 keV for freeze-in, in good agreement with previous literature, and provide a generic lower mass bound for superWIMPs that depends on the mother particle decay width. Special emphasis is placed on the mixed scenario, where contributions from both freeze-in and superWIMP are similarly important. In this case, the imprint on cosmological observables can deviate significantly from thermal warm DM. Furthermore, we provide a modified version of the Boltzmann code class, analytic expressions for the DM distributions, and fits to the DM transfer functions that account for both mechanisms of production. Moreover, we also derive generic constraints from ∆N eff measurements and show that they cannot compete with those arising from Lyman-α observations. For illustration, we apply the above generic limits to a coloured t-channel mediator DM model, in which case contributions from both freeze-in through scatterings and decays, as well as superWIMP production can be important. We map out the entire cosmologically viable parameter space, cornered by bounds from Lyman-α observations, the LHC, and Big Bang Nucleosynthesis.

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“…The results in this section are related to a number of previous studies of neutrino-dark matter interactions in cosmological observables [29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36]. In many cases, the interaction is parameterized by a constant cross-section and is thus highly constrained by the primary CMB as well.…”

Section: Cosmological Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…In addition, the gravitational influence of neutrino density fluctuations uniquely reveals that they are free-steaming at nearly the speed of light around the time of recombination [19][20][21][22], an effect that has been measured in the CMB [20,23,24] and large scale structure (LSS) [25]. These physical signatures of the nature of neutrinos are responsible for the strong constraints on neutrino self-interactions [26][27][28] and interactions with dark matter [29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36] prior to recombination.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neutrino interactions in the late universe

Green

Kaplan

Rajendran

2021

J. High Energ. Phys.

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The cosmic neutrino background is both a dramatic prediction of the hot Big Bang and a compelling target for current and future observations. The impact of relativistic neutrinos in the early universe has been observed at high significance in a number of cosmological probes. In addition, the non-zero mass of neutrinos alters the growth of structure at late times, and this signature is a target for a number of upcoming surveys. These measurements are sensitive to the physics of the neutrino and could be used to probe physics beyond the standard model in the neutrino sector. We explore an intriguing possibility where light right-handed neutrinos are coupled to all, or a fraction of, the dark matter through a mediator. In a wide range of parameter space, this interaction only becomes important at late times and is uniquely probed by late-time cosmological observables. Due to this coupling, the dark matter and neutrinos behave as a single fluid with a non-trivial sound speed, leading to a suppression of power on small scales. In current and near-term cosmological surveys, this signature is equivalent to an increase in the sum of the neutrino masses. Given current limits, we show that at most 0.5% of the dark matter could be coupled to neutrinos in this way.

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The full Boltzmann hierarchy for dark matter-massive neutrino interactions

Cited by 43 publications

References 116 publications

Cosmological Implications of a Neutrino Mass Detection

Cosmological Implications of a Neutrino Mass Detection

Lyman-$α$ constraints on freeze-in and superWIMPs

Neutrino interactions in the late universe

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