Interactions in the dark sector: intrinsic entropy couplings

Abstract

We present a new class of interacting dark sector models in which the intrinsic entropy of a dark matter fluid couples to a scalar field describing dark energy. These interactions are constructed within a covariant Lagrangian framework, including algebraic and derivative entropy couplings, effectively leading to pure momentum exchange in the dark sector. A key feature is that the background cosmology remains unchanged and therefore indistinguishable from $\hat{I}›$CDM or uncoupled quintessence. However, at the level of the linear perturbations, the dark matter Euler equation exhibits scale-dependent contributions, while the continuity equation is unmodified. We show that these classes of models are compatible with current CMB constraints and can potentially produce observable signatures in large-scale structure.

5 pages, 1 figure, proceedings of the 60th Rencontres de Moriond on Cosmology: Moriond Cosmology 2026