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arXiv · 1505.06735

Exploring dark matter microphysics with galaxy surveys

Miguel Escudero·Olga Mena·Aaron C. Vincent·Ryan J. Wilkinson·Celine Boehm
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Abstract

We use present cosmological observations and forecasts of future experiments to illustrate the power of large-scale structure (LSS) surveys in probing dark matter (DM) microphysics and unveiling potential deviations from the standard $\Lambda$CDM scenario. To quantify this statement, we focus on an extension of $\Lambda$CDM with DM-neutrino scattering, which leaves a distinctive imprint on the angular and matter power spectra. After finding that future CMB experiments (such as COrE+) will not significantly improve the constraints set by the Planck satellite, we show that the next generation of galaxy clustering surveys (such as DESI) could play a leading role in constraining alternative cosmologies and even have the potential to make a discovery. Typically we find that DESI would be an order of magnitude more sensitive to DM interactions than Planck, thus probing effects that until now have only been accessible via $N$-body simulations.

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Miguel Escudero, Olga Mena, Aaron C. Vincent, Ryan J. Wilkinson, Celine Boehm. 2015-05-25. Exploring dark matter microphysics with galaxy surveys. https://doi.org/10.1088/1475-7516%2F2015%2F09%2F034

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