Unified origin of baryons and dark matter

TL;DR

This paper proposes a unified mechanism where decays of a heavy scalar field generate both baryon asymmetry and dark matter, explaining their similar densities while avoiding common cosmological problems.

Contribution

It introduces a novel scenario linking baryogenesis and dark matter production through scalar field decays, addressing key cosmological issues.

Findings

Baryon asymmetry and dark matter density can originate from the same decay process.

The mechanism naturally explains the similar energy densities of baryons and dark matter.

The approach avoids the cosmological moduli and gravitino problems.

Abstract

We investigate the possibility that both the baryon asymmetry of the universe and the observed cold dark matter density are generated by decays of a heavy scalar field which dominates the universe before nucleosynthesis. Since baryons and cold dark matter have common origin, this mechanism yields a natural explanation of the similarity of the corresponding energy densities. The cosmological moduli and gravitino problems are avoided.