Accidentally Asymmetric Dark Matter.

Area of Science:

• Particle physics
• Cosmology
• Dark matter physics

Background:

• Dark matter candidates are baryons in a confining SU(N) dark sector.
• A first-order phase transition is proposed within this dark sector.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate the impact of a first-order phase transition on dark matter abundance.
• Determine the required mass scale for dark quarks to match observed dark matter levels.

Main Methods:

• Simulate a first-order phase transition in a confining SU(N) dark sector.
• Analyze the trapping and annihilation of heavy dark quarks in deconfined pockets.
• Model the dependence of dark matter abundance on local asymmetry within pockets.

Main Results:

• The phase transition creates isolated pockets of deconfined quarks.
• A secondary annihilation stage within these pockets significantly suppresses the dark quark abundance.
• The correct dark matter abundance is achieved for dark quark masses around 1–100 PeV.

Conclusions:

• The proposed mechanism naturally suppresses dark quark abundance to observed dark matter levels.
• Heavy dark quarks (1–100 PeV) are viable dark matter candidates within this model.
• The model resolves the abundance puzzle for dark matter originating from a confining dark sector.