Astrophysical Searches and Constraints on Ultralight Bosonic Dark Matter
Abstract
Starting from the evidence that dark matter indeed exists and permeates the entire cosmos, various bounds on its properties can be estimated. Beginning with the cosmic microwave background and large scale structure, we summarize bounds on the ultralight bosonic dark matter (UBDM) mass and cosmic density. These bounds are extended to larger masses by considering galaxy formation and evolution, and the phenomenon of black hole superradiance. We then discuss the formation of different classes of UBDM compact objects including solitons/axion stars and miniclusters. Next, we consider astrophysical constraints on the couplings of UBDM to Standard Model particles, from stellar cooling (production of UBDM) and indirect searches (decays or conversion of UBDM). Throughout, there are short discussions of "hints and opportunities" in searching for UBDM in each area.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.2106.08797,
title = {Astrophysical Searches and Constraints on Ultralight Bosonic Dark Matter},
author = {David J. E. Marsh and Sebastian Hoof},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2106.08797},
year = {2022}
}
Comments
46 pages, 8 figures. To appear as Chapter 3 in "The Search for Ultralight Bosonic Dark Matter," edited by Derek F. Jackson Kimball & Karl van Bibber (Springer, 2021). Solutions for the problems are included