Ionization history of the Universe as a test for Super Heavy Dark Matter particles

Abstract

In this paper we discuss the possible distortions of the ionization history of the universe caused by an injection of non-thermal energy due to decays of hypothetical Super Heavy Dark Matter (SHDM) particles. These particles are usually considered as a possible source of Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECRs) in the framework of the Top-Down model. Estimates of fraction of energy of decays converted to the UV range show that, for suitable parameters of SHDM particles, the significant distortions of power spectra of CMB anisotropy appear. Comparison with the observed power spectrum allows to restrict some properties of the SHDM particles. These decays can also increase of about 5 -- 10 times the degree of ionization of hydrogen at redshifts $z\sim$ 10 -- 50 that essentially accelerates the formation of molecules $H_2$ and first stars during "dark ages".

6 pages, 5 figures, Phys.Rev D, submitted

References in corpus (2)

• The high energy cosmic ray spectrum from relic particle decay
• Constraints on the Ultra High Energy Photon flux using inclined showers from the Haverah Park array

Cited by in corpus (16)

• Particle decays during the cosmic dark ages
• CMB constraints on Dark Matter models with large annihilation cross-section
• The Effects of Dark Matter Decay and Annihilation on the High-Redshift 21 cm Background
• Dynamical Dark Matter: II. An Explicit Model
• Constraining dark matter late-time energy injection: decays and p-wave annihilations
• Ionization history of the cosmic plasma in the light of the recent CBI and future PLANCK data
• CMB and 21-cm Signals for Dark Matter with a Long-Lived Excited State
• Decaying Superheavy Dark Matter and Subgalactic Structure of the Universe
• Delayed Recombination and Cosmic Parameters
• CMB polarization constraints on radiative feedback
• Primordial star formation triggered by UV photons from UHECR
• Cosmological constraints in the presence of ionizing and resonance radiation at recombination
• Why CMB physics?
• Antimatter from the cosmological baryogenesis and the anisotropies and polarization of the CMB radiation
• How accurately can we measure the hydrogen 2S->1S transition rate from the cosmological data?
• CMB polarization anisotropies from cosmological reionization: extension to B-modes