Theory Seminar: Self-interacting asymmetric dark matter

Kalliopi Petraki, NIKEF Amsterdam [slides]

Observations of the galactic and sub-galactic structure of our universe suggest that a shift from the collisionless cold dark matter paradigm may be needed. Dark matter with sizable self-interactions offers a compelling explanation of these observations.

Particle​ ​physics models of self-interacting dark matter can be well accommodated within the asymmetric dark matter scenario. Asymmetric dark matter hypothesizes that the relic dark​ ​matter abundance is due to an excess of dark particles over antiparticles, and allows for sizable and direct couplings of dark matter to light force mediators.

In addition, the dark particle-antiparticle asymmetry may be related to the baryon asymmetry of the universe, thus offering a dynamical explanation for the similarity of the dark and the ordinary matter abundances. Exploring the low-energy phenomenology of self-interacting asymmetric dark matter, including the effect on the dynamics of dark matter halos and possible detection strategies, presupposes understanding the cosmology of these models, which can be quite involved. I will discuss the above, and illustrate them in the context of the atomic dark matter model.