The origin and composition of dark matter is one of the most urgent questions to answer in fundamental science. Among several plausible candidates, weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) produced in the early universe via thermal freeze-out provide an appealing and motivated scenario. In this thesis, we develop the formalism to account for an effect known as the Sommerfeld enhancement. This takes place when attractive forces mediated by interactions with a small coupling strength become effectively strong if matter particles move slowly. We conclude by quantifying how the Sommerfeld enhancement alters the dark matter relic density.
The origin and composition of dark matter is one of the most urgent questions to answer in fundamental science. Among several plausible candidates, weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) produced in the early universe via thermal freeze-out provide an appealing and motivated scenario. In this thesis, we develop the formalism to account for an effect known as the Sommerfeld enhancement. This takes place when attractive forces mediated by interactions with a small coupling strength become effectively strong if matter particles move slowly. We conclude by quantifying how the Sommerfeld enhancement alters the dark matter relic density.
Impact of Sommerfeld corrections on the dark matter relic density
PAVONE, FEDERICO
2021/2022
Abstract
The origin and composition of dark matter is one of the most urgent questions to answer in fundamental science. Among several plausible candidates, weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) produced in the early universe via thermal freeze-out provide an appealing and motivated scenario. In this thesis, we develop the formalism to account for an effect known as the Sommerfeld enhancement. This takes place when attractive forces mediated by interactions with a small coupling strength become effectively strong if matter particles move slowly. We conclude by quantifying how the Sommerfeld enhancement alters the dark matter relic density.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12608/35075