Strong Constraints on Self-Interacting Dark Matter with Light Mediators

Rapid Bound State Formation of Dark Matter in the Early Universe

The formation and decay of dark matter (DM) bound states deplete the thermal relic density during the chemical decoupling process, allowing for larger DM masses. While so far the bound state formation (BSF) has been described via the emission of an on-shell mediator, we point out that this particular process does not have to be the dominant one in general. If the mediator is coupled in a direct way to any relativistic species present in the early Universe, we demonstrate that BSF can much more efficiently occur through particle scattering. Consequently, DM can be heavier than previously expected.

Velocity Dependence from Resonant Self-Interacting Dark Matter

The dark matter density distribution in small-scale astrophysical objects may indicate that dark matter is self-interacting, while observations from clusters of galaxies suggest that the corresponding cross section depends on the velocity. Using a model-independent approach, we show that resonant self-interacting dark matter can naturally explain such a behavior. In contrast to what is often assumed, this does not require a light mediator. We present explicit realizations of this mechanism and discuss the corresponding astrophysical constraints.