Stringy Space-Time Foam, Finsler-like Metrics and Dark Matter Relics

TL;DR

This paper explores how stringy space-time foam and D-particle interactions modify dark matter relic abundances, introducing Finsler-like metric effects that could impact supersymmetric dark matter searches.

Contribution

It introduces a novel framework where D-particle foam induces metric fluctuations affecting dark matter relic calculations, linking string theory effects to cosmological observations.

Findings

Extra source terms in Boltzmann equations due to foam effects

Dependence of metric deformations on momentum transfer

Potential implications for supersymmetric dark matter models

Abstract

We discuss modifications of the thermal Dark Matter (DM) relic abundances in stringy cosmologies with D-particle space-time foamy backgrounds. As a result of back-reaction of massive DM on the background space-time, owing to its interaction with D-particle defects in the foam, quantum fluctuations are induced in the space-time metric. We demonstrate that these lead to the presence of extra source terms in the Boltzmann equation used to determine the thermal dark matter relic abundances. The source terms are determined by the specific form of the induced metric deformations; the latter depend on the momentum transfer of the DM particle during its interactions with the D-particle defects and so are akin to Finsler metrics. In the case of low string scales arising from large extra dimensions our results may have phenomenological implications for the search of viable supersymmetric models.