Dark Matter and Sterile Neutrinos

Details Dark Matter and Sterile Neutrinos Dark Matter and Sterile Neutrinos

2007-02-06

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0702173v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

18 pages, To appear in Proceedings of the 11th Marcel Grossmann Meeting on General Relativity, 23-29 July 2006, Berlin, German

Scientific paper

Dark matter has been recognized as an essential part of matter for over 70 years now, and many suggestions have been made, what it could be. Most of these ideas have centered on Cold Dark Matter, particles that are predicted in extensions of standard particle physics, such as supersymmetry. Here we explore the concept that dark matter is sterile neutrinos, particles that are commonly referred to as Warm Dark Matter. Such particles have keV masses, and decay over a very long time, much longer than the Hubble time. In their decay they produce X-ray photons which modify the ionization balance in the very early universe, increasing the fraction of molecular Hydrogen, and thus help early star formation. Sterile neutrinos may also help to understand the baryon-asymmetry, the pulsar kicks, the early growth of black holes, the minimum mass of dwarf spheroidal galaxies, as well as the shape and smoothness of dark matter halos. As soon as all these tests have been made quantitative in their various parameters, we may focus on the creation mechanism of these particles, and could predict the strength of the sharp X-ray emission line, expected from any large dark matter assembly. A measurement of this X-ray emission line would be definitive proof for the existence of may be called weakly interacting neutrinos, or WINs.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Dark Matter and Sterile Neutrinos does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Dark Matter and Sterile Neutrinos, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Dark Matter and Sterile Neutrinos will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-217829