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Updated: Sep 23, 2025
Setting Limits on Supersymmetry Using Simplified Models
Published on: November 15, 2013
Limits on the Light Dark Matter-Proton Cross Section from Cosmic Large-Scale Structure.
Keir K Rogers1, Cora Dvorkin2, Hiranya V Peiris3,4
1Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Toronto, 50 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H4, Canada.
Researchers set new limits on dark matter-proton interactions using the Lyman-alpha forest. This study improves cosmological bounds on dark matter properties, complementing direct detection experiments.
Area of Science:
- Cosmology
- Particle Physics
- Astrophysics
Background:
- Dark matter (DM) interactions are key to understanding its nature.
- Direct detection experiments have limitations for sub-GeV dark matter.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish the strongest limits on the velocity-independent dark matter-proton cross section (σ).
- To probe dark matter properties using cosmological data.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing large-scale structure from the Lyman-alpha forest.
- Employing an emulator of cosmological simulations.
- Analyzing data from the smallest cosmological scales to date.
Main Results:
- Setting new, stringent limits on the dark matter-proton cross section (σ) for DM masses from 10 keV to 100 GeV.
- Achieving a 95% lower limit of σ < 6x10⁻³⁰ cm² for m = 100 keV.
- Improving cosmological bounds by up to a factor of 25.
Conclusions:
- Cosmological observations provide powerful constraints on dark matter properties.
- This method complements direct detection, especially for low-mass dark matter.
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