Sommerfeld effect in freeze-in dark matter

Abstract

If two annihilation products of dark matter (DM) particles are non-relativistic and coupled to a light force mediator, their plane wave functions are modified due to multiple exchanges of the force mediators. This gives rise to the Sommerfeld effect (SE). We consider the attractive and repulsive force SE on the relic density in different phases of freeze-in DM. We find that in the pure freeze-in region, the attractive/repulsive force SE slightly increases/decreases DM relic density by less than $20\%$ for TeV-scale DM. In the reannihilation region, if the portal coupling $\kappa$ is sufficiently large (by comparing the portal reaction rate to the Hubble rate), DM density will reach its equilibrium, and subsequently freeze out. Compared to the case without the SE, the presence of the attractive SE leads to an enlarged cross-section. As a result, a higher equilibrium value of DM density is reached, and a lower relic density is obtained after the subsequent freeze-out. However, the repulsive SE has the opposite influence. In the dark sector (DS) freeze-out region, also known as the middle flat plateau or ``mesa'' in the phase diagram, the SE has a significant impact on DM relic abundance. In this region, the attractive SE suppresses DM relic density by simultaneously enlarging the cross-section of the portal and DS internal interaction. In contrast, the repulsive SE will have the opposite effect. Finally, in the usual freeze-out region, DM relic density is suppressed or enhanced by an enlarged or reduced cross-section of the portal, respectively, due to the presence of the attractive or repulsive SE. In summary, when considering the constraint of producing correct DM relic abundance, the inclusion of SE in the portal reaction or DS internal reaction will modify the model parameters, resulting in a band-like possible parameter space.