Constraints on the Electrical Charge Asymmetry of the Universe

C. Caprini; P. G. Ferreira

doi:10.1088/1475-7516/2005/02/006

paper

Constraints on the Electrical Charge Asymmetry of the Universe

arXiv:hep-ph/0310066 · doi:10.1088/1475-7516/2005/02/006

Abstract

We use the isotropy of the Cosmic Microwave Background to place stringent constraints on a possible electrical charge asymmetry of the universe. We find the excess charge per baryon to be $q_{e - p} < 1 0^{- 26} e$ in the case of a uniform distribution of charge, where $e$ is the charge of the electron. If the charge asymmetry is inhomogeneous, the constraints will depend on the spectral index, $n$ , of the induced magnetic field and range from $q_{e - p} < 5 \times 1 0^{- 20} e$ ( $n = - 2$ ) to $q_{e - p} < 2 \times 1 0^{- 26} e$ ( $n \geq 2$ ). If one could further assume that the charge asymmetries of individual particle species are not anti-correlated so as to cancel, this would imply, for photons, $q_{γ} < 1 0^{- 35} e$ ; for neutrinos, $q_{ν} < 4 \times 1 0^{- 35} e$ ; and for heavy (light) dark matter particles $q_{dm} < 4 \times 1 0^{- 24} e$ ( $q_{dm} < 4 \times 1 0^{- 30} e$ ).

arXiv commentNew version to appear in JCAP

Constraints on the Electrical Charge Asymmetry of the Universe

Abstract

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