Dark matter freeze-out during matter domination

We highlight the general scenario of dark matter freeze-out while the energy density of the universe is dominated by a decoupled non-relativistic species. Decoupling during matter domination changes the freeze-out dynamics, since the Hubble rate is parametrically different for matter and radiation domination. Furthermore, for successful Big Bang Nucleosynthesis the state dominating the early universe energy density must decay, this dilutes (or repopulates) the dark matter. As a result, the masses and couplings required to reproduce the observed dark matter relic density can differ significantly from radiation-dominated freeze-out.

Thermal relics

The Boltzmann equations, which describe processes as diverse as the evolution of the dark matter density, big bang nucleosynthesis or recombination, are derived. The Gamov criterion states that processes freeze-out when their rate becomes smaller than the Hubble rate. It is demonstrated that the mass of any thermal relic is bounded by ≲ 20TeV, while the abundance of a cold dark matter particle with 〈σ‎v〉 ≃ 3 × 10−26 cm3/s corresponds to the observed one, Ω‎CDM = 0.2. Big bang nucleosynthesis, which successfully explains the abundance of light elements like D and 4He, is discussed.

Dark Matter and Baryon Asymmetry from the very Dawn of Universe

We discuss a possibility of universally producing dark matter and baryon charge at inflation. For this purpose, we introduce a complex scalar field with the mass exceeding the Hubble rate during the last e-folds of inflation. We assume that the phase of the complex scalar is linearly coupled to the inflaton. This interaction explicitly breaking U(1)-symmetry leads to the production of a non-zero Noether charge. The latter serves as a source of dark matter abundance, or baryon asymmetry, if the complex scalar carries the baryon charge.

Dynamical dark energy: Scalar fields and running vacuum

Recent analyses in the literature suggest that the concordance [Formula: see text]CDM model with rigid cosmological term, [Formula: see text] may not be the best description of the cosmic acceleration. The class of “running vacuum models”, in which [Formula: see text] evolves with the Hubble rate, has been shown to fit the string of SNIa + BAO + H(z) + LSS + CMB data significantly better than the [Formula: see text]CDM. Here, we provide further evidence on the time-evolving nature of the dark energy (DE) by fitting the same cosmological data in terms of scalar fields. As a representative model, we use the original Peebles and Ratra potential, [Formula: see text]. We find clear signs of dynamical DE at [Formula: see text] c.l., thus reconfirming through a nontrivial scalar field approach the strong hints formerly found with other models and parametrizations.

The little sibling of the big rip singularity

In this paper, we present a new cosmological event, which we named the little sibling of the big rip. This event is much smoother than the big rip singularity. When the little sibling of the big rip is reached, the Hubble rate and the scale factor blow up, but the cosmic derivative of the Hubble rate does not. This abrupt event takes place at an infinite cosmic time where the scalar curvature explodes. We show that a doomsday à la little sibling of the big rip is compatible with an accelerating universe, indeed at present it would mimic perfectly a ΛCDM scenario. It turns out that, even though the event seems to be harmless as it takes place in the infinite future, the bound structures in the universe would be unavoidably destroyed on a finite cosmic time from now. The model can be motivated by considering that the weak energy condition should not be strongly violated in our universe, and it could give us some hints about the status of recently formulated nonlinear energy conditions.

General dissipative coefficient in warm intermediate inflation in Loop Quantum Cosmology in light of Planck and BICEP2

In this paper, we study a warm intermediate inflationary model with a general form for the dissipative coefficient Γ(T, ϕ) = CϕTm/ϕm-1 in the context of Loop Quantum Cosmology (LQC). We examine this model in the weak and strong dissipative regimes. In general, we discuss in great detail the characteristics of this model in the slow-roll approximation. Also, we assume that the modifications to perturbation equations result exclusively from Hubble rate. In this approach, we use recent astronomical observations from Planck and BICEP2 experiments to restrict the parameters in our model.