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Title: Finite Bubble Statistics Constrain Late Cosmological Phase Transitions

Journal Article · · Physical Review Letters

We consider first order cosmological phase transitions (PTs) happening at late times below standard model temperatures T PT GeV . The inherently stochastic nature of bubble nucleation and the finite number of bubbles associated with a late-time PT lead to superhorizon fluctuations in the PT completion time. We compute how such fluctuations eventually source curvature fluctuations with universal properties, independent of the microphysics of the PT dynamics. Using cosmic microwave background (CMB) and large scale structure measurements, we constrain the energy released in a dark-sector PT. For 0.1 eV T PT keV this constraint is stronger than both the current bound from additional neutrino species Δ N eff , and in some cases, even CMB-S4 projections. Future measurements of CMB spectral distortions and pulsar timing arrays will also provide competitive sensitivity for keV T PT GeV . Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0007859
OSTI ID:
2478185
Journal Information:
Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 21 Vol. 133; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
Publisher:
American Physical SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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