Signatures of Self-Interacting Dark Matter in the Matter Power Spectrum and the CMB

Abstract

We consider a self-interacting dark matter model in which the massive dark photon mediating the self-interaction decays to light dark fermions to avoid over-closing the universe. We find that if the model is constrained to explain the dark matter halos inferred for spiral galaxies and galaxy clusters simultaneously, there is a strong indication that dark matter is produced asymmetrically in the early universe. It also implies the presence of dark radiation, late kinetic decoupling for dark matter, and a suppressed linear power spectrum due to dark acoustic damping. The Lyman-$\alpha$ forest power spectrum measurements put a strong upper limit on the damping scale and the model has little room to reduce the abundances of satellite galaxies. Future observations in the matter power spectrum and the CMB, in tandem with the impact of self-interactions in galactic halos, makes it possible to measure the gauge coupling and masses of the dark sector particles even when signals in conventional dark matter searches are absent.