Radiative decays of massive relic particles and the submillimeter background

Journal Article · Mon Jul 10 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.63.117· OSTI ID:5962347

Field, G B; Walker, T P

We consider the interaction of the decay photons of an unstable relic particle species with the microwave background radiation. The radiative decays of these particles delay recombination and serve as an energy source for the resultant plasma. Nonrelativistic Compton scattering by these electrons couples the decay photons to the microwave background, producing submillimeter distortions. If the decay products close the Universe, they must decay with a radiative branching ratio larger than 2.5/times/10/sup /minus/5/ in order to produce recently observed excess submillimeter background radiation. To be consistent with measurements of the uv background, their mass /ital m//much gt/114 keV and their decay redshift /ital Z//sub /ital d///much gt/5200.

• Research Organization: Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138(US)
• OSTI ID: 5962347
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 63:2; ISSN PRLTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640101* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Cosmic Radiation
640106 -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Cosmology
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COSMIC RADIATION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
HEATING
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MICROWAVE RADIATION
PLASMA HEATING
RADIATIONS
RED SHIFT
SPECTRA
ULTRAVIOLET SPECTRA