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Title: Super Heavy Dark Matter in light of BICEP2, Planck and Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays Observations

Abstract

The announcement by BICEP2 of the detection of B-mode polarization consistent with primordial gravitational waves with a tensor-to-scalar ratio, r=0.2{sup +0.07}{sub −0.05}, challenged predictions from most inflationary models of a lower value for r. More recent results by Planck on polarized dust emission show that the observed tensor modes signal is compatible with pure foreground emission. A more significant constraint on r was then obtained by a joint analysis of Planck, BICEP2 and Keck Array data showing an upper limit to the tensor to scalar ratio r≤ 0.12, excluding the case 0r= with low statistical significance. Forthcoming measurements by BICEP3, the Keck Array, and other CMB polarization experiments, open the possibility for making the fundamental measurement of r. Here we discuss how r sets the scale for models where the dark matter is created at the inflationary epoch, the generically called super-heavy dark matter models. We also consider the constraints on such scenarios given by recent data from ultrahigh energy cosmic ray observatories which set the limit on super-heavy dark matter particles lifetime. We discuss how super-heavy dark matter can be discovered by a precise measurement of r combined with future observations of ultra high energy cosmic rays.

Authors:
 [1];  [2]
  1. Gran Sasso Science Institute (INFN), Viale F. Crispi 7, I-67100 L'Aquila (Italy)
  2. Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia G. Galilei and INFN, Università degli Studi di Padova, Via F. Marzolo 8, I-35131 Padova (Italy)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22525573
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 2015; Journal Issue: 08; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 1475-7516
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
79 ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY; COSMIC RADIATION; COSMIC RAY DETECTION; GRAVITATIONAL WAVES; LIFETIME; LIMITING VALUES; NONLUMINOUS MATTER; POLARIZATION; RELICT RADIATION; SCALARS; TENSORS; VISIBLE RADIATION

Citation Formats

Aloisio, R., Matarrese, S., and Olinto, A.V., E-mail: aloisio@arcetri.astro.it, E-mail: sabino.matarrese@pd.infn.it, E-mail: olinto@kicp.uchicago.edu. Super Heavy Dark Matter in light of BICEP2, Planck and Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays Observations. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.1088/1475-7516/2015/08/024.
Aloisio, R., Matarrese, S., & Olinto, A.V., E-mail: aloisio@arcetri.astro.it, E-mail: sabino.matarrese@pd.infn.it, E-mail: olinto@kicp.uchicago.edu. Super Heavy Dark Matter in light of BICEP2, Planck and Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays Observations. United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/1475-7516/2015/08/024
Aloisio, R., Matarrese, S., and Olinto, A.V., E-mail: aloisio@arcetri.astro.it, E-mail: sabino.matarrese@pd.infn.it, E-mail: olinto@kicp.uchicago.edu. 2015. "Super Heavy Dark Matter in light of BICEP2, Planck and Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays Observations". United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/1475-7516/2015/08/024.
@article{osti_22525573,
title = {Super Heavy Dark Matter in light of BICEP2, Planck and Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays Observations},
author = {Aloisio, R. and Matarrese, S. and Olinto, A.V., E-mail: aloisio@arcetri.astro.it, E-mail: sabino.matarrese@pd.infn.it, E-mail: olinto@kicp.uchicago.edu},
abstractNote = {The announcement by BICEP2 of the detection of B-mode polarization consistent with primordial gravitational waves with a tensor-to-scalar ratio, r=0.2{sup +0.07}{sub −0.05}, challenged predictions from most inflationary models of a lower value for r. More recent results by Planck on polarized dust emission show that the observed tensor modes signal is compatible with pure foreground emission. A more significant constraint on r was then obtained by a joint analysis of Planck, BICEP2 and Keck Array data showing an upper limit to the tensor to scalar ratio r≤ 0.12, excluding the case 0r= with low statistical significance. Forthcoming measurements by BICEP3, the Keck Array, and other CMB polarization experiments, open the possibility for making the fundamental measurement of r. Here we discuss how r sets the scale for models where the dark matter is created at the inflationary epoch, the generically called super-heavy dark matter models. We also consider the constraints on such scenarios given by recent data from ultrahigh energy cosmic ray observatories which set the limit on super-heavy dark matter particles lifetime. We discuss how super-heavy dark matter can be discovered by a precise measurement of r combined with future observations of ultra high energy cosmic rays.},
doi = {10.1088/1475-7516/2015/08/024},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22525573}, journal = {Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics},
issn = {1475-7516},
number = 08,
volume = 2015,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2015},
month = {Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2015}
}