arXiv subjects

M. Laine

Publications and source records attributed to M. Laine.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2023

Langevin simulation of dark matter kinetic equilibration

Recently it has been questioned, notably in the context of the scalar singlet dark matter model with $m_φ^{ }\simeq 60$ GeV, how efficiently kinetic equilibrium is maintained if freeze-out dynamics is pushed down to low temperatures by resonant effects. We outline how Langevin simulations can be employed for addressing the non-equilibrium momentum distribution of non-relativistic particles in a cosmological background. For a scalar singlet mass $m_φ^{ }\simeq 60$ GeV, these simulations suggest that kinetic equilibrium is a good approximation down to $T \sim 1$ GeV, with the deviation first manifesting itself as a red-tilted spectrum. This reduces the annihilation cross section, confirming findings from other methods that a somewhat larger ($ < 20\%$) coupling than in equilibrium is needed for obtaining the correct abundance.

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arXiv2023

Resonant $s$-channel dark matter annihilation at NLO

Studies of dark matter annihilation through an $s$-channel resonance are often based on recipes such as a narrow width approximation or real intermediate state subtraction. We review a recipe-free formalism that can be implemented at the NLO level in the full theory, and ensures the cancellation of mass singularities. Its basic ingredients can be formulated in the relativistic regime, but we show that the procedure simplifies if we go to the non-relativistic one and assume the presence of kinetic equilibrium. The latter case is illustrated for scalar singlet dark matter with $m_{\rm S}^{ } \simeq 60$ GeV, freezing out at $T \simeq (1-3)$ GeV, re-confirming the viability of this scenario with couplings tiny enough to evade experimental constraints.

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arXiv2022

Gravitational wave background from vacuum and thermal fluctuations during axion-like inflation

We revisit the framework of axion-like inflation in view of the possibility that the coupling of the inflaton to a non-Abelian topological charge density could lead to the generation of a rapidly thermalizing heat bath. Both dispersive (mass) and absorptive (friction) effects are included. For phenomenologically viable parameters, the system remains in a weak regime of warm inflation (thermal friction $\ll$ Hubble rate). For tensor perturbations we derive an interpolating formula that incorporates both vacuum and thermal production. The latter yields a model-independent frequency shape $\sim f_0^3$ in the LISA window, whose coefficient allows to measure the maximal shear viscosity of the thermal epoch. It is a challenge, however, to find models where the coefficient is large enough to be observable.

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arXiv2022

Shape of the hot topological charge density spectral function

After motivating an interest in the shape of the topological charge density spectral function in hot Yang-Mills theories, we estimate it with the help of thermally averaged classical real-time simulations, for $N_{\rm c} = 2,3$. After subtracting a perturbative contribution at large frequencies, we observe a non-trivial shape at small frequencies (a dip rather than a peak), interpolating smoothly towards the sphaleron rate at zero frequency. Possible frequency scales making an appearance in this shape are discussed. Implications for warm axion inflation and reheating, and for imaginary-time lattice measurements of the strong sphaleron rate, are recapitulated.

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arXiv2022

Lattice study of a magnetic contribution to heavy quark momentum diffusion

Heavy quarks placed within a hot QCD medium undergo Brownian motion, characterized by specific transport coefficients. Their determination can be simplified by expanding them in $T/M$, where $T$ is the temperature and $M$ is a heavy quark mass. The leading term in the expansion originates from the colour-electric part of a Lorentz force, whereas the next-to-leading order involves the colour-magnetic part. We measure a colour-magnetic 2-point correlator in quenched QCD at $T \sim 1.2 ... 2.0 T_{\rm c}^{ }$. Employing multilevel techniques and non-perturbative renormalization, a good signal is obtained, and its continuum extrapolation can be estimated. Modelling the shape of the corresponding spectral function, we subsequently extract the momentum diffusion coefficient, $κ$. For charm (bottom) quarks, the magnetic contribution adds $\sim 30\%$ ($10\%$) to the electric one. The same increases apply also to the drag coefficient, $η$. As an aside, the colour-magnetic spectral function is computed at NLO.

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arXiv2022

Sterile neutrino rates for general $M$, $T$, $μ$, $k$: review of a theoretical framework

The temperature of sphaleron freeze-out, $T\approx 130$ GeV, sets a scale for mechanisms for generating lepton asymmetries and converting them to baryon asymmetry (leptogenesis). For Majorana masses $M \gg πT$, leptogenesis takes place in the non-relativistic regime, while for $M \ll πT$, the dynamics is ultrarelativistic. The intermediate case $M \sim πT$ is the most cumbersome, as no effective theory methods are available. We review the definitions of and provide integral representations for all rate coefficients and mass corrections of $\mathcal{O}(h_ν^2)$ in this regime, such that the expressions extrapolate to known limits and are gauge independent to the order computed, both in the symmetric and the Higgs phase, for any helicity, momentum, and set of chemical potentials. Road signs towards a numerical evaluation are offered.

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arXiv2022

Gravitational wave background from non-Abelian reheating after axion-like inflation

A pseudoscalar inflaton $φ$, coupled to the topological charge density $F\tilde{F}$ of a non-Abelian sector, can decay to gauge bosons ($φ\to g g $), which may thermalize rapidly. The friction felt by $φ$ is then increased by non-Abelian "strong sphalerons", leading to a self-amplifying process that can efficiently heat up the medium. We determine a lower bound for the gravitational wave production rate from such a process, originating via hydrodynamic fluctuations and particle collisions, in terms of a minimal number of parameters. Only a moderate fraction of energy density is converted to gravitational waves, suggesting that non-Abelian models may avoid the overproduction observed in some Abelian cases.

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arXiv2022

Mass-suppressed effects in heavy quark diffusion

Many lattice studies of heavy quark diffusion originate from a colour-electric correlator, obtained as a leading term after an expansion in the inverse of the heavy-quark mass. In view of the fact that the charm quark is not particularly heavy, we consider subleading terms in the expansion. Working out correlators up to $O(1/M^2)$, we argue that the leading corrections are suppressed by $O(T/M)$, and one of them can be extracted from a colour-magnetic correlator. The corresponding transport coefficient is non-perturbative already at leading order in the weak-coupling expansion, and therefore requires a non-perturbative determination.

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arXiv2021

Smooth interpolation between thermal Born and LPM rates

In a weakly coupled ultrarelativistic plasma, $1 + n \leftrightarrow 2 + n$ scatterings, with $n \ge 0$, need sometimes to be summed to all orders, in order to determine a leading-order interaction rate. To implement this "LPM resummation", kinematic approximations are invoked. However, in cosmological settings, where the temperature changes by many orders of magnitude and both small and large momenta may play a role, such approximations are not always justified. We suggest a procedure to smoothly interpolate between LPM-resummed $1 + n \leftrightarrow 2 + n$ and Born-level $1 \leftrightarrow 2$ results, rendering the outcome applicable to a broader range of masses and momenta. The procedure is illustrated for right-handed neutrino production from a Standard Model plasma, and dilepton production from a QCD plasma.

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arXiv2021

Efficient numerical integration of thermal interaction rates

In many problems in particle cosmology, interaction rates are dominated by ${2}\leftrightarrow{2}$ scatterings, or get a substantial contribution from them, given that ${1}\leftrightarrow{2}$ and ${1}\leftrightarrow{3}$ reactions are phase-space suppressed. We describe an algorithm to represent, regularize, and evaluate a class of thermal ${2}\leftrightarrow{2}$ and ${1}\leftrightarrow{3}$ interaction rates for general momenta, masses, chemical potentials, and helicity projections. A key ingredient is an automated inclusion of virtual corrections to ${1}\leftrightarrow{2}$ scatterings, which eliminate logarithmic and double-logarithmic IR divergences from the real ${2}\leftrightarrow{2}$ and ${1}\leftrightarrow{3}$ processes. We also review thermal and chemical potential induced contributions that require resummation if plasma particles are ultrarelativistic.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

1-loop matching of a thermal Lorentz force

Studying the diffusion and kinetic equilibration of heavy quarks within a hot QCD medium profits from the knowledge of a coloured Lorentz force that acts on them. Starting from the spatial components of the vector current, and carrying out two matching computations, one for the heavy quark mass scale ($M$) and another for thermal scales ($\sqrt{MT}$, $T$), we determine 1-loop matching coefficients for the electric and magnetic parts of a Lorentz force. The magnetic part has a non-zero anomalous dimension, which agrees with that extracted from two other considerations, one thermal and the other in vacuum. The matching coefficient could enable a lattice study of a colour-magnetic 2-point correlator.

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arXiv2021

Minimal warm inflation with complete medium response

If a homogeneous field evolves within a medium, with the latter gradually picking up a temperature, then the friction felt by the field depends on how its evolution rate compares with medium time scales. We suggest a framework which permits to incorporate the contributions from all medium time scales. As an example, we illustrate how warm axion inflation can be described by inputting the retarded pseudoscalar correlator of a thermal Yang-Mills plasma. Adopting a semi-realistic model for the latter, and starting the evolution at almost vanishing temperature, we show how the system heats up and then enters the "weak" or "strong" regime of warm inflation. Previous approximate treatments are scrutinized.

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arXiv2020

Gravitational wave background from Standard Model physics: Complete leading order

We compute the production rate of the energy density carried by gravitational waves emitted by a Standard Model plasma in thermal equilibrium, consistently to leading order in coupling constants for momenta $k\sim πT$. Summing up the contributions from the full history of the universe, the highest temperature of the radiation epoch can be constrained by the so-called $N_{\rm eff}$ parameter. The current theoretical uncertainty $ΔN_{\rm eff} \le 10^{-3}$ corresponds to $T_{\rm max} \le 2\times 10^{17}$ GeV. In the course of the computation, we show how a subpart of the production rate can be determined with the help of standard packages, even if subsequently an IR subtraction and thermal resummation need to be implemented.

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arXiv2020

Sterile neutrino dark matter via coinciding resonances

It has been proposed that two resonances could coincide in the early universe at temperatures $T \sim 0.2 ... 0.5$ GeV: one between two nearly degenerate GeV-scale sterile neutrinos, producing a large lepton asymmetry through freeze-out and decays; another between medium-modified active neutrinos and keV-scale sterile neutrinos, converting the lepton asymmetry into dark matter. Making use of a framework which tracks three sterile neutrinos of both helicities as well as three separate lepton asymmetries, and scanning the parameter space of the GeV-scale species, we establish the degree of fine-tuning that is needed for realizing this scenario.

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arXiv2020

A QCD Debye mass in a broad temperature range

The Debye mass sets a scale for the screening of static charges and the scattering of fast charges within a gauge plasma. Inspired by its potential cosmological applications, we determine a QCD Debye mass at 2-loop order in a broad temperature range (1 GeV ... 10 TeV), demonstrating how quark mass thresholds get smoothly crossed. Along the way, integration-by-parts identities pertinent to massive loops at finite temperature are illuminated.

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arXiv2019

Testing thermal photon and dilepton rates

We confront the thermal NLO vector spectral function (both the transverse and longitudinal channel with respect to spatial momentum, both above and below the light cone) with continuum-extrapolated lattice data (both quenched and with $N_{\rm f} = 2$, at $T \sim 1.2 T_{\rm c}$). The perturbative side incorporates new results, whose main features are summarized. The resolution of the lattice data is good enough to constrain the scale choice of $α_{\rm s}$ on the perturbative side. The comparison supports the previous indication that the true spectral function falls below the resummed NLO one in a substantial frequency domain. Our results may help to scrutinize direct spectral reconstruction attempts from lattice QCD.

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arXiv2019

Non-relativistic susceptibility and a dark matter application

When thermal rate equations are derived for the evolution of slow variables, it is often practical to parametrize the right-hand side with chemical potentials. To close the system, the chemical potentials are subsequently re-expressed in terms of the slow variables, which involves the consideration of a "susceptibility". Here we study a non-relativistic situation in which chemical potentials are large compared with the temperature, as is relevant for late-time pair annihilations in dark matter freeze-out. An order-of-magnitude estimate and a lattice simulation are presented for a susceptibility dominated by bound states of stop-like mediators. After this "calibration", the formalism is applied to a model with Majorana singlet dark matter, confirming that masses up to the multi-TeV domain are viable in the presence of sufficient (though not beyond a limit) mass degeneracy in the dark sector.

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arXiv2019

A thermal neutrino interaction rate at NLO

The interaction rate of an ultrarelativistic active neutrino at a temperature below the electroweak crossover plays a role in leptogenesis scenarios based on oscillations between active neutrinos and GeV-scale sterile neutrinos. By making use of a Euclideanization property of a thermal light-cone correlator, we determine the $O(g)$ correction to such an interaction rate in the high-temperature limit $πT \gg m_W$, finding a $\sim 15 ... 40\%$ reduction. For a benchmark point, this NLO correction decreases the lepton asymmetries produced by $\sim 1\%$.

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