Primordial ${}^4\text{He}$ constraints on inelastic macro dark matter revisited

Abstract

At present, the best model for the evolution of the cosmos requires that dark matter make up approximately $25\%$ of the energy content of the Universe. Most approaches to explain the microscopic nature of dark matter, to date, have assumed its composition to be of intrinsically weakly interacting particles; however, this need not be the case to have consistency with all extant observations. Given decades of inconclusive evidence to support any dark matter candidate, there is strong motivation to consider alternatives to the standard particle scenario. One such example is macro dark matter, a class of candidates (macros) that could interact strongly with the particles of the Standard Model, have large masses and physical sizes, and yet behave as dark matter. Macros that scatter completely inelastically could have altered the primordial production of the elements, and macro charge-dependent constraints have been obtained previously. Here we reconsider the phenomenology of inelastically interacting macros on the abundance of primordially produced ${}^4\text{He}$ and revise previous constraints by also taking into account improved measurements of the primordial ${}^4\text{He}$ abundance. The constraints derived here are limited in applicability to only leptophobic macros that have a surface potential $V\gtrsim 0.5$MeV. However, an important conclusion from our analysis is that even neutral macros would likely affect the abundance of the light elements. Therefore, constraints on that scenario are possible and are currently an open question.

arXiv commentv2: 5 pages; substantial improvement over the first version now includes consideration of Debye screening of the primordial plasma during BBN. Accepted by Phys. Rev. D

References in corpus (18)

• Planck 2015 results. XIII. Cosmological parameters
• Big Bang Nucleosynthesis: 2015
• Supersymmetric Q-balls as dark matter
• Hunting for topological dark matter with atomic clocks
• The effects of He I 10830 on helium abundance determinations
• Systematic effects and a new determination of the primordial abundance of 4He and dY/dZ from observations of blue compact galaxies
• A new determination of the primordial He abundance using the HeI 10830A emission line: cosmological implications
• Constraining Dark Matter candidates from structure formation
• "Nonbaryonic" Dark Matter as Baryonic Color Superconductor
• Macro Dark Matter
• Topological Dark Matter
• Using the CMB angular power spectrum to study Dark Matter-photon interactions
• Fundamental Particle Structure in the Cosmological Dark Matter
• Cold Dark Matter as Compact Composite Objects
• Searches for topological defect dark matter via non-gravitational signatures
• Compact Ultra Dense Matter Impactors
• Resonant bar detector constraints on macro dark matter
• Dark Matter as Dense Color Superconductor