Possible interaction between baryons and dark-matter particles revealed by the first stars

Nature
Rennan Barkana

Abstract

The cosmic radio-frequency spectrum is expected to show a strong absorption signal corresponding to the 21-centimetre-wavelength transition of atomic hydrogen around redshift 20, which arises from Lyman-α radiation from some of the earliest stars. By observing this 21-centimetre signal-either its sky-averaged spectrum or maps of its fluctuations, obtained using radio interferometers-we can obtain information about cosmic dawn, the era when the first astrophysical sources of light were formed. The recent detection of the global 21-centimetre spectrum reveals a stronger absorption than the maximum predicted by existing models, at a confidence level of 3.8 standard deviations. Here we report that this absorption can be explained by the combination of radiation from the first stars and excess cooling of the cosmic gas induced by its interaction with dark matter. Our analysis indicates that the spatial fluctuations of the 21-centimetre signal at cosmic dawn could be an order of magnitude larger than previously expected and that the dark-matter particle is no heavier than several proton masses, well below the commonly predicted mass of weakly interacting massive particles. Our analysis also confirms that dark matter is highly non-rel...Continue Reading

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Citations

Mar 2, 2018·Nature·Lincoln Greenhill
Jul 22, 2018·Physical Review Letters·Anastasia FialkovAviad Cohen
Sep 29, 2018·Physical Review Letters·Nick HoustonXin Zhang
Oct 13, 2018·Physical Review Letters·Amit BhoonahSarah Schon
Oct 9, 2018·Physical Review Letters·Julian B MuñozAbraham Loeb
Feb 16, 2019·Physical Review Letters·Roland de PutterJoel Meyers
Mar 9, 2019·Physical Review Letters·Gabriel MagillYu-Dai Tsai
Jul 22, 2018·Physical Review Letters·Asher BerlinSamuel D McDermott
Aug 25, 2018·Physical Review Letters·Michael CrislerUNKNOWN SENSEI Collaboration
Mar 7, 2019·Scientific Reports·Man Ho Chan
Mar 1, 2018·Nature·Lincoln Greenhill
Aug 18, 2018·Physical Review Letters·R AgneseX Zhao
Aug 8, 2018·Physical Review Letters·Maxim PospelovAlfredo Urbano
Jul 22, 2018·Physical Review Letters·Guido D'AmicoAlessandro Strumia
Nov 24, 2020·Philosophical Transactions. Series A, Mathematical, Physical, and Engineering Sciences·Xuelei ChenLi Zhou
Nov 24, 2020·Philosophical Transactions. Series A, Mathematical, Physical, and Engineering Sciences·Jack O Burns
Nov 24, 2020·Philosophical Transactions. Series A, Mathematical, Physical, and Engineering Sciences·Joseph Silk
Apr 2, 2021·The Journal of Physical Chemistry. a·Gokul KannanRichard J Saykally
Jul 17, 2021·Physical Review Letters·Andrea CaputoAlfredo Urbano
Aug 24, 2021·Physical Review Letters·Daniel CarneyJacob M Taylor

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