Dark matter model favoured by reionization data: 7 keV sterile neutrino versus cold dark matter

TY - JOUR

T1 - Dark matter model favoured by reionization data

T2 - 7 keV sterile neutrino versus cold dark matter

AU - Rudakovskyi, Anton

AU - Iakubovskyi, Dmytro

PY - 2019/3/1

Y1 - 2019/3/1

N2 - One of possible explanations of a faint narrow emission line at 3.5 keV reported in our Galaxy, Andromeda galaxy and a number of galaxy clusters is the dark matter made of 7 keV sterile neutrinos. Another signature of such sterile neutrino dark matter could be fewer ionizing sources in the early Universe [compared to the standard 'cold dark matter' (CDM) scenario], which should affect the reionization of the Universe. By using a semi-analytical model of reionization, we compare the model predictions for CDM and two different models of 7 keV sterile neutrino dark matter (consistent with the 3.5 keV line interpretation as decaying dark matter line) with available observations of epoch of reionization (including the final measurements of electron scattering optical depth made by Planck observatory). We found that both CDM and 7 keV sterile neutrino dark matter well describe the data. The overall fit quality for sterile neutrino dark matter is slightly (with δ2-3) better than for CDM, although it is not possible to make a robust distinction between these models on the basis of the given observations.

AB - One of possible explanations of a faint narrow emission line at 3.5 keV reported in our Galaxy, Andromeda galaxy and a number of galaxy clusters is the dark matter made of 7 keV sterile neutrinos. Another signature of such sterile neutrino dark matter could be fewer ionizing sources in the early Universe [compared to the standard 'cold dark matter' (CDM) scenario], which should affect the reionization of the Universe. By using a semi-analytical model of reionization, we compare the model predictions for CDM and two different models of 7 keV sterile neutrino dark matter (consistent with the 3.5 keV line interpretation as decaying dark matter line) with available observations of epoch of reionization (including the final measurements of electron scattering optical depth made by Planck observatory). We found that both CDM and 7 keV sterile neutrino dark matter well describe the data. The overall fit quality for sterile neutrino dark matter is slightly (with δ2-3) better than for CDM, although it is not possible to make a robust distinction between these models on the basis of the given observations.

U2 - 10.1093/mnras/sty3057

DO - 10.1093/mnras/sty3057

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0035-8711

VL - 483

SP - 4080

EP - 4084

JO - Royal Astronomical Society. Monthly Notices

JF - Royal Astronomical Society. Monthly Notices

ER -