Presented By: Leinweber Center for Theoretical Physics
Dark Matter Production: Finite Temperature Effects in the Early Universe
Michael Baker (U Zurich)
In the early universe, the Standard Model particles formed a hot thermal bath. We highlight the importance of finite temperature corrections in these conditions on various production mechanisms of dark matter, primarily through temperature dependent masses and scalar vevs. We first consider a variation on standard freeze-out, where kinematic thresholds determine the relic abundance. We then consider a freeze-in model where the production rate is dramatically increased when a kinematic threshold opens. Finally, we present a qualitatively new production mechanism for dark matter, where dark matter decay is allowed for a limited amount of time just before the electroweak phase transition.
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