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Yue-Lin Sming Tsai

Publications and source records attributed to Yue-Lin Sming Tsai.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Revisiting open clusters within 200 pc in the solar neighbourhood with Gaia DR3

In this study, we develop a membership identification method and apply it for 30 open clusters (OCs) within 200 pc of the Sun using astrometric data of Gaia DR3. By accounting for projection effects that distort apparent stellar motions, our approach converts astrometric data into accurate five-dimensional positions and velocities. This approach enables better identification of members in nearby open clusters. We then compare our refined membership lists with previous catalogs, revealing more members in most open clusters, but also the identification of elongated structures in Melotte 25 (Hyades), NGC 2632 (Praesepe), Melotte 111 (Coma Berenices), Platais 3, Melotte 22 (Pleiades), NGC 2451A, Platais 9, IC 2391, Platais 8, UPK 640, HSC 2986, which we studied in detail. An analysis of the ages of their members reveals the members within and outside of the tidal radius are distinctly coeval, further validating our methodology. This study suggests that for OCs in the solar neighborhood, correcting for the projection effect is very important for identification of OC members.

astro-ph.SR↗

Searching Accretion-Enhanced Dark Matter Annihilation Signals in the Galactic Centre

This study reanalyzes the detection prospects of dark matter (DM) annihilation signals in the Galactic Center, focusing on velocity-dependent dynamics within a spike density near the supermassive black hole (Sgr~A$^{\star}$). We investigate three annihilation processes -- $p$-wave, resonance, and forbidden annihilation -- under semi-relativistic velocities, leveraging gamma-ray data from Fermi and DAMPE telescopes. Our analysis integrates a fermionic DM model with an electroweak axion-like particle (ALP) portal, exploring annihilation into two or four photons. Employing a comprehensive six-dimensional integration, we precisely calculate DM-induced gamma-ray fluxes near Sgr~A$^{\star}$, incorporating velocity and positional dependencies in the annihilation cross-section and photon yield spectra. Our findings highlight scenarios of resonance and forbidden annihilation, where the larger ALP-DM-DM coupling constant $C_{aχχ}$ can affect spike density, potentially yielding detectable gamma-ray line spectra within Fermi and DAMPE energy resolution. We set upper limits for $C_{aχχ}$ across these scenarios, offering insights into the detectability and spectral characteristics of DM annihilation signals from the Galactic Center.

hep-ph↗

Relic density and temperature evolution of a light dark sector

We have developed a set of four fully coupled Boltzmann equations to precisely determine the relic density and temperature of dark matter by including three distinct sectors: dark matter, light scalar, and standard model sectors. The intricacies of heat transfer between dark matter (DM) and the standard model sector through a light scalar particle are explored, inspired by stringent experimental constraints on the scalar-Higgs mixing angle and the DM-scalar coupling. Three distinct sectors emerge prior to DM freeze-out, requiring fully coupled Boltzmann equations to accurately compute relic density. Investigation of forbidden, resonance, and secluded DM scenarios demonstrates significant deviations between established methods and the novel approach with fully coupled Boltzmann equations. Despite increased computational demands, this emphasizes the need for improved precision in relic density calculations, underlining the importance of incorporating these equations in comprehensive analyses.

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Weak Lensing Constraints on Dark Matter-Baryon Interactions with $N$-Body Simulations and Machine Learning

We investigate the elastic scattering cross section between dark matter and protons using the DES Year 3 weak lensing data. This scattering induces a dark acoustic oscillation structure in the matter power spectra. To address non-linear effects at low redshift, we utilize principal component analysis alongside a limited set of $N$-body simulations, improving the reliability of our matter power spectrum prediction. We further perform a robust Markov Chain Monte Carlo analysis to derive the upper bounds on the DM-proton elastic scattering cross-section, assuming different velocity dependencies. Our results, presented as the first Frequentist upper limits, are compared with the ones obtained by Bayesian approach. Compared with the upper limits derived from the Planck cosmic microwave background data, our findings from DES Year 3 data exhibit improvements of up to a factor of five. In addition, we forecast the future sensitivities of the China Space Station Telescope, the upcoming capabilities of this telescope could improve the current limits by approximately one order of magnitude.

astro-ph.CO↗

Multi-frequency test of dark matter annihilation into long-lived particles in Sirius

New long-lived particles produced at the colliders may escape from conventional particle detectors. Using satellites or ground telescopes, we can detect the photons generated from the annihilation of the star-captured dark matter into a pair of long-lived particles. When the propagation length of these long-lived particles surpasses the interplanetary distance between the Sun and Jupiter, it becomes unfeasible to detect such dark matter signals originating from the Sun or Jupiter on Earth. Our analysis of the dark matter-induced photons produced by prompt radiation, inverse Compton scattering, and synchrotron radiation mechanisms reveals that a decay length of about $10^{-3}$ pc for long-lived particles is required for maximum detectability. We investigate the parameters that allow the long-lived particle's lifetime to be consistent with Big Bang nucleosynthesis while also allowing it to escape the confines of our solar system. The Sirius system is proposed as a promising target for the indirect detection of such long-lived particles. Utilizing the prompt, inverse Compton scattering, and synchrotron radiation, upper limits on the dark matter-proton spin-independent and spin-dependent cross section are estimated with the Fermi-LAT null-signal observation and the capabilities of the upcoming Square Kilometre Array radio telescope.

astro-ph.HE↗

Mirror QCD phase transition as the origin of the nanohertz Stochastic Gravitational-Wave Background

Several Pulsar Timing Array (PTA) collaborations have recently provided strong evidence for a nHz Stochastic Gravitational-Wave Background (SGWB). Here we investigate the implications of a first-order phase transition occurring within the early universe's dark quantum chromodynamics (dQCD) epoch, specifically within the framework of the mirror twin Higgs dark sector model. Our analysis indicates a distinguishable SGWB signal originating from this phase transition, which can explain the measurements obtained by PTAs. Remarkably, a significant portion of the parameter space for the SGWB signal also effectively resolves the existing tensions in both the $H_0$ and $S_8$ measurements in Cosmology. This intriguing correlation suggests a possible common origin of these three phenomena for $0.2 < ΔN_{\rm eff} < 0.5$, where the mirror dark matter component constitutes about $30\%$ of the total dark matter abundance. Next generation CMB experiment such as CMB-S4 is able to test this parameter region.

astro-ph.HE↗

Inelastic Scattering of Dark Matter with Heavy Cosmic Rays

We investigate the impact of inelastic collisions between dark matter (DM) and heavy cosmic ray (CR) nuclei on CR propagation. We approximate the fragmentation cross-sections for DM-CR collisions using collider-measured proton-nuclei scattering cross-sections, allowing us to assess how these collisions affect the spectra of CR Boron and Carbon. We derive new CR spectra from DM-CR collisions by incorporating their cross-sections into the source terms and solving the diffusion equation for the complete network of reactions involved in generating secondary species. In a specific example with a coupling strength of $b_χ=0.1$ and a DM mass of $m_χ=0.1$ GeV, considering a simplified scenario where DM interacts exclusively with Oxygen, a notable modification in the Boron-to-Carbon spectrum due to the DM-CR interaction is observed. Particularly, the peak within the spectrum, spanning from $0.1$ GeV to $10$ GeV, experiences an enhancement of approximately 1.5 times. However, in a more realistic scenario where DM particles interact with all CRs, this peak can be amplified to twice its original value.Utilizing the latest data from AMS-02 and DAMPE on the Boron-to-Carbon ratio, we estimate a 95\% upper limit for the effective inelastic cross-section of DM-proton as a function of DM mass. Our findings reveal that at $m_χ\simeq 2$ MeV, the effective inelastic cross-section between DM and protons must be less than $\mathcal{O}(10^{-32})~{\rm cm}^2$.

astro-ph.HE↗

Light Thermal Dark Matter Beyond $p$-Wave Annihilation in Minimal Higgs Portal Model

This study explores a minimal renormalizable dark matter (DM) model, incorporating a sub-GeV Majorana DM and a singlet scalar particle $ϕ$. Using scalar and pseudo-scalar interactions (couplings $c_s$ and $c_p$), we investigate implications for DM detection, considering $s$-wave, $p$-wave, and combined ($s$+$p$ wave) contributions in DM annihilation cross-section, as well as loop-correction contributions to DM-nucleon elastic scattering. Identifying a broad parameter space ($10 \,\rm{MeV} < m_χ\lesssim m_ϕ$) within the $2σ$ allowed region, we explore scenarios ($\left|c_s\right|\gg \left|c_p\right|$, $\left|c_s\right|\ll \left|c_p\right|$, and $\left|c_s\right|\approx \left|c_p\right|$). We find that (i) a non-zero pseudo-scalar coupling alleviates direct detection constraints as a comparison with the previous pure scalar coupling case; (ii) CMB observations set stringent limits on pseudo-scalar interaction dominant cases, making $s$-wave annihilation viable only for $m_χ>1\,\rm{GeV}$; (iii) the preferred $ϕ$-resonance region can be tested in the future indirect detection experiments, such as e-ASTROGAM.

hep-ph↗

Primordial magnetic field as a common solution of nanohertz gravitational waves and the Hubble tension

The origin of interstellar and intergalactic magnetic fields remains largely unknown. One possibility is that they are related to the primordial magnetic fields (PMFs) produced by, for instance, the phase transitions of the early Universe. In this paper, we show that the PMF-induced turbulence generated at around the QCD phase transition epoch--the characteristic magnetic field strength $B_{\rm ch}^* \sim \mathcal{O}(1)~\rm{μG}$ and coherent length scale $\ell_{\rm ch}^* \sim \mathcal{O}(1)~\rm{pc}$--can naturally accommodate nanohertz gravitational waves reported by pulsar timing array (PTA) collaborations. Moreover, the evolution of the PMFs to the recombination era with the form of $B_{\rm ch}\sim \ell_{\rm ch}^{-α}$ can induce baryon density inhomogeneities, alter the recombination history, and alleviate the tension of the Hubble parameter $H_0$ and the matter clumpiness parameter $S_8$ between early- and late-time measurements for $0.88\leq α\leq 1.17$ (approximate 95\% credible region based on three PTA likelihoods). The further evolved PMFs may account for the $\sim {\cal O}(10^{-16})$ Gauss extragalactic magnetic field inferred with GRB 221009A.

astro-ph.HE↗

R-process beta-decay neutrino flux from binary neutron star mergers and collapsars

This study investigates the antineutrinos production by $β$-decay of $r$-process nuclei in two astrophysical sites that are capable of producing gamma-ray bursts (GRBs): binary neutron star mergers (BNSMs) and collapsars, which are promising sites for heavy element nucleosynthesis. We employ a simplified method to compute the $β$-decay $\barν_e$ energy spectrum and consider a number of different representative thermodynamic trajectories for $r$-process simulations, each with four sets of $Y_e$ distribution. The time evolution of the $\barν_e$ spectrum is derived for both the dynamical ejecta and the disk wind for BNSMs and collapsar outflow, based on approximated mass outflow rates. Our results show that the $\barν_e$ has an average energy of approximately 3 to 9~MeV, with a high energy tail of up to 20 MeV. The $\barν_e$ flux evolution is primarily determined by the outflow duration, and can thus remain large for $\mathcal{O}(10)$~s and $\mathcal{O}(100)$~s for BNSMs and collapsars, respectively. For a single merger or collapsar at 40~Mpc, the $\barν_e$ flux is $\mathcal{O}(10-100)$~cm$^{-2}$~s$^{-1}$, indicating a possible detection horizon up to $0.1-1$~Mpc for Hyper-Kamiokande. We also estimate their contributions to the diffuse $\barν_e$ background, and find that both sources should only contribute subdominantly to the diffuse background when compared to that expected from core-collapse supernovae.

astro-ph.HE↗

Exploring dark matter spike distribution around the Galactic centre with stellar orbits

Precise measurements of the stellar orbits around Sagittarius A* have established the existence of a supermassive black hole (SMBH) at the Galactic centre (GC). Due to the interplay between the SMBH and dark matter (DM), the DM density profile in the innermost region of the Galaxy, which is crucial for the DM indirect detection, is still an open question. Among the most popular models in the literature, the theoretical spike profile proposed by Gondolo and Silk (1999; GS hereafter) is well adopted. In this work, we investigate the DM spike profile using updated data from the Keck and VLT telescopes considering that the presence of such an extended mass component may affect the orbits of the S-stars in the Galactic center. We examine the radius and slope of the generalized NFW spike profile, analyze the Einasto spike, and discuss the influence of DM annihilation on the results. Our findings indicate that an initial slope of $γ\gtrsim 0.92$ for the generalized NFW spike profile is ruled out at a 95% confidence level. Additionally, the spike radius $R_{\rm sp}$ larger than 21.5 pc is rejected at 95% probability for the Einasto spike with $α=0.17$, which also contradicts the GS spike model. The constraints with the VLT/GRAVITY upper limits are also projected. Although the GS NFW spike is well constrained by the Keck and VLT observation of S2, an NFW spike with a weak annihilation cusp may still be viable, as long as the DM annihilation cross section satisfies $\left< σv \right> \gtrsim 7.7\times 10^{-27}~{\rm cm^3\,s^{-1}} (m_{\rm DM}/100~{\rm GeV})$ at 95% level.

astro-ph.GA↗

Exploring Mirror Twin Higgs Cosmology with Present and Future Weak Lensing Surveys

We explore the potential of precision cosmological data to study non-minimal dark sectors by updating the cosmological constraint on the mirror twin Higgs model (MTH). The MTH model addresses the Higgs little hierarchy problem by introducing dark sector particles. In this work, we perform a Bayesian global analysis that includes the latest cosmic shear measurement from the DES three-year survey and the Planck CMB and BAO data. In the early Universe, the mirror baryon and mirror radiation behave as dark matter and dark radiation, and their presence modifies the Universe's expansion history. Additionally, the scattering between mirror baryon and photon generates the dark acoustic oscillation process, suppressing the matter power spectrum from the cosmic shear measurement. We demonstrate how current data constrain these corrections to the $Λ$CDM cosmology and find that for a viable solution to the little hierarchy problem, the proportion of MTH dark matter cannot exceed about $30\%$ of the total dark matter density, unless the temperature of twin photon is less than $30\%$ of that of the standard model photon. While the MTH model is presently not a superior solution to the observed $H_0$ tension compared to the $Λ$CDM+$ΔN_{\rm eff}$ model, we demonstrate that it has the potential to alleviate both the $H_0$ and $S_8$ tensions, especially if the $S_8$ tension persists in the future and approaches the result reported by the Planck SZ (2013) analysis. In this case, the MTH model can relax the tensions while satisfying the DES power spectrum constraint up to $k \lesssim 10~h\rm {Mpc}^{-1}$. If the MTH model is indeed accountable for the $S_8$ and $H_0$ tensions, we show that the future China Space Station Telescope (CSST) can determine the twin baryon abundance with a $10\%$ level precision.

astro-ph.CO↗

NMSSM neutralino dark matter for CDF II $W$-boson mass and muon $g-2$ and the promising prospect of direct detection

Two experiments from the Fermilab, E989 and CDF II, have reported two anomalies for muon $g-2$ and $W$-boson mass that may indicate the new physics at the low energy scale. Here we examine the possibility of a common origin of these two anomalies in the Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model. Considering various experimental and astrophysical constraints such as the Higgs mass, collider data, flavor physics, dark matter relic density, and direct detection experiments, we find that lighter electroweakinos and sleptons can generate sufficient contributions to muon $g-2$ and $m_W$. Moreover, the corresponding bino-like neutralino dark matter mass is in the $\sim 180-280$ GeV range. Interestingly, the favored DM mass region can soon be entirely probed by ongoing direct detection experiments like PandaX-4T, XENONnT, LUX-ZEPLIN, and DARWIN.

hep-ph↗

Constraining ultralight bosonic dark matter with Keck observations of S2's orbit and kinematics

Ultralight bosonic dark matter is expected to be able to form a cloud surrounding the supermassive black hole (SMBH) in the Galactic center. With increasing precision of the observations of the stellar kinematics around the SMBH, tiny effects from such a dark matter cloud, including its gravitational perturbation and the direct coupling with the ordinary matter may be detectable. In this work, we search for possible evidence of the scalar cloud using accurate orbital measurements of the S2 star around Sgr~A*. We solve the first order Post-Newtonian equation, considering simultaneously the extended mass distribution of the scalar cloud and the frequency shift induced by the additional coupling via Higgs portal or photon portal interaction. Furthermore, we also investigate the impact of an astrophysical power-law component from the gas and stellar remnants. We find that the astrometric and spectroscopic data of the S2 star are well consistent with the scenario of a point-like mass of Sgr~A*. We thus derive upper limits of the coupling of the new interaction and the extended mass, with and without the contribution from the astrophysical component. The limits of the Higgs/photon coupling and the extended mass of the scalar cloud are the most stringent ones for the scalar mass window between $3.2\times 10^{-19}$~eV and $1.6\times 10^{-18}$~eV.

astro-ph.HE↗

Inert Higgs Dark Matter for CDF-II W-boson Mass and Detection Prospects

The $W$-boson mass, which was recently measured at FermiLab with an unprecedented precision, suggests the presence of new multiplets beyond the Standard Model (SM). One of the minimal extensions of the SM is to introduce an additional scalar doublet, in which the non-SM scalars can enhance $W$-boson mass via the loop corrections. On the other hand, with a proper discrete symmetry, the lightest new scalar in the doublet can be stable and play the role of dark matter particle. We show that the inert two Higgs doublet model can naturally handle the new $W$-boson mass without violating other constraints, and the preferred dark matter mass is between $54$ and $74$ GeV. We identify three feasible parameter regions for the thermal relic density: the $SA$ co-annihilation, the Higgs resonance, and the $SS \to WW^*$ annihilation. We find that the first region can be fully tested by the HL-LHC, the second region will be tightly constrained by direct detection experiments, and the third region could yield detectable GeV gamma-ray and antiproton signals in the Galaxy that may have been observed by Fermi-LAT and AMS-02.

hep-ph↗

Muonphilic Dark Matter explanation of gamma-ray galactic center excess: a comprehensive analysis

The Galactic center gamma-ray excess (GCE) is a long-standing unsolved problem. One of candidate solutions, the dark matter (DM) annihilation, has been recently tested with other astrophysical observations, such as AMS-02 electron-positron spectra, Fermi Dwarf spheroidal galaxies gamma-ray data, and so on. By assuming that the DM particles annihilate purely into a normal charged fermion pair, Di Mauro and Winkle (2021) claimed that only a muon-pair is compatible with the null detection of all the corresponding astrophysical measurements and can explain GCE simultaneously. On the other hand, a muonphilic DM model may also lead to a signal in the recent Fermilab muon $g-2$ measurement or be constrained by the latest PandaX-4T limit. In this work, we comprehensively study interactions between DM and muon, including various combinations of DM and mediator spins. In agreement with GCE (not only $2μ$ but also $4μ$ final states), we test these interactions against all the thermal DM constraints. Our results show that only the parameter space near the resonance region of mediator can explain GCE and relic density simultaneously, and larger parameter spaces are still allowed if other poorly-known systematic uncertainties are included. Regardless of the DM spin, only the interactions with the spin-0 mediator can explain the recent muon $g-2$ excess on top of GCE, relic density, and other DM and mediator constraints.

astro-ph.HE↗

Simple and statistically sound recommendations for analysing physical theories

Physical theories that depend on many parameters or are tested against data from many different experiments pose unique challenges to statistical inference. Many models in particle physics, astrophysics and cosmology fall into one or both of these categories. These issues are often sidestepped with statistically unsound ad hoc methods, involving intersection of parameter intervals estimated by multiple experiments, and random or grid sampling of model parameters. Whilst these methods are easy to apply, they exhibit pathologies even in low-dimensional parameter spaces, and quickly become problematic to use and interpret in higher dimensions. In this article we give clear guidance for going beyond these procedures, suggesting where possible simple methods for performing statistically sound inference, and recommendations of readily-available software tools and standards that can assist in doing so. Our aim is to provide any physicists lacking comprehensive statistical training with recommendations for reaching correct scientific conclusions, with only a modest increase in analysis burden. Our examples can be reproduced with the code publicly available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4322283.

hep-ph↗

Revising inelastic dark matter direct detection by including the cosmic ray acceleration

The null signal from collider and dark matter (DM) direct detector experiments makes the interaction between DM and visible matter too small to reproduce the correct relic density for many thermal DM models. The remaining parameter space indicates that two almost degenerated states in the dark sector, the inelastic DM scenario, can co-annihilate in the early universe to produce the correct relic density. Regarding the direct detection of the inelastic DM scenario, the virialized DM component from the nearby halo is nonrelativistic and not able to excite the DM ground state, even if the relevant couplings can be considerable. Thus, a DM with a large mass splitting can evade traditional virialized DM direct detection. In this study, we connect the concept of cosmic-ray accelerated DM in our Milky Way and the direct detection of inelastic scattering in underground detectors to explore spectra that result from several interaction types of the inelastic DM. We find that the mass splitting $δ<\mathcal{O}(1~{\rm MeV})$ can still be reachable for cosmic ray accelerated DM with mass range $1~{\rm MeV}<m_{χ_1}<100~{\rm GeV}$ and sub-GeV light mediator using the latest PandaX-4T data, even though we conservatively use the astrophysical parameter (effective length) $D_{\rm eff}=1$ kpc.

hep-ph↗