Cannibal Dark Matter

TL;DR

Cannibal Dark Matter explores a hidden sector where particles undergo cannibalism, affecting relic density and producing observable signals like boosted indirect detection rates, additional relativistic particles, and warm dark matter.

Contribution

This paper introduces the Cannibal Dark Matter framework, a novel scenario where dark matter's relic density is set by cannibalistic processes in a hidden sector.

Findings

Relic density determined by 2-to-2 annihilations in the hidden sector

Potential signals include boosted indirect detection rates

Presence of additional relativistic degrees of freedom and warm dark matter

Abstract

A thermally decoupled hidden sector of particles, with a mass gap, generically enters a phase of cannibalism in the early Universe. The Standard Model sector becomes exponentially colder than the hidden sector. We propose the Cannibal Dark Matter framework, where dark matter resides in a cannibalizing sector with a relic density set by 2-to-2 annihilations. Observable signals of Cannibal Dark Matter include a boosted rate for indirect detection, new relativistic degrees of freedom, and warm dark matter.