- April 13, 2020, 1:00 pm US/Central
- Tommi Tenkanen, Johns Hopkins University
Abstract: The observed dark matter (DM) abundance in the Universe can be fully accounted for by a minimally coupled spectator scalar field that was light during cosmic inflation. In this scenario, dark matter was produced during inflation by amplification of quantum fluctuations of the spectator field. I will discuss the DM isocurvature perturbations that are unavoidably generated in such scenarios and the circumstances under which they are not problematic for the viability of non-thermal DM models. I will also discuss implications of DM isocurvature for structure formation, showing that the scenario has interesting consequences which allow one to test models where DM is only gravitationally coupled. The talk is based on 1905.01214.
For more information, please join the FCPA mailing list.