Dark Matter Freeze-out via Catalyzed Annihilation

Chuan-Yang Xing, Shou-Hua Zhu

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arXiv
2102.02447
Date
2021-02-04
Frontier
Cosmic Frontier (CF)
Topical groups
Submitted by
Chuan-Yang Xing

Abstract

We present a new paradigm of dark matter freeze-out, where the annihilation of dark matter particles is catalyzed. We discuss in detail the regime that the depletion of dark matter proceeds via 2χ→2A′ and 3A′→2χ processes, in which χ and A′ denote dark matter and the catalyst respectively. In this regime, the dark matter number density is depleted polynomially rather than exponentially (Boltzmann suppression) as in classic WIMPs and SIMPs. The paradigm applies for a secluded weakly interacting dark sector with a dark matter in the MeV-TeV mass range. The catalyzed annihilation paradigm is compatible with CMB and BBN constraints, with enhanced indirect detection signals.