Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Self-interacting dark matter scattering rates through cosmic time

Robertson, A.; Massey, R.; Eke, V.; Bower, R.

Self-interacting dark matter scattering rates through cosmic time Thumbnail


Authors

R. Bower



Abstract

We estimate the rate of dark matter scattering in collapsed structures throughout the history of the Universe. If the scattering cross-section is velocity independent, then the canonical picture is correct that scatterings occur mainly at late times. The scattering rate peaks slightly at redshift z ∼ 6, and remains significant today. Half the scatterings occur after z ∼ 1, in structures more massive than 1012 M⊙. Within a factor of 2, these numbers are robust to changes in the assumed astrophysics, and the scatterings would be captured in cosmological simulations. However, for particle physics models with a velocity-dependent cross-section (as for Yukawa potential interactions via a massive mediator), the scattering rate peaks before z ∼ 20, in objects with mass ≲104 M⊙. These precise values are sensitive to the redshift-dependent mass–concentration relation and the small-scale cut-off in the matter power spectrum. In extreme cases, the qualitative effect of early interactions may be reminiscent of warm dark matter and strongly affect the subsequent growth of structure. However, these scatterings are being missed in existing cosmological simulations with limited mass resolution.

Citation

Robertson, A., Massey, R., Eke, V., & Bower, R. (2015). Self-interacting dark matter scattering rates through cosmic time. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 453(3), 2267-2276. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stv1805

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Nov 1, 2015
Deposit Date Feb 10, 2016
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Print ISSN 0035-8711
Electronic ISSN 1365-2966
Publisher Royal Astronomical Society
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 453
Issue 3
Pages 2267-2276
DOI https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stv1805
Keywords Astroparticle physics, Galaxies: haloes, Dark matter.

Files

Published Journal Article (1.4 Mb)
PDF

Copyright Statement
This article has been accepted for publication in Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society ©: 2015 The Authors Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.





You might also like



Downloadable Citations