Anomalous spectral lines and relic quantum nonequilibrium

TL;DR

This paper explores how relic cosmological particles might exhibit spectral features indicative of quantum nonequilibrium, leading to observable deviations like spectral broadening or narrowing, impacting dark matter detection strategies.

Contribution

It introduces the concept that relic particles could display spectral anomalies due to preserved quantum nonequilibrium, a novel idea in cosmological particle analysis.

Findings

Spectral broadening proportional to telescope energy resolution.

Potential for spectral line narrowing below conventional resolution.

Implications for interpreting controversial dark matter spectral lines.

Abstract

We describe features that could be observed in the line spectra of relic cosmological particles should quantum nonequilibrium be preserved in their statistics. According to our arguments, these features would represent a significant departure from those of a conventional origin. Among other features, we find a possible spectral broadening that is proportional to the energy resolution of the recording telescope (and so could be much larger than any conventional broadening). Notably, for a range of possible initial conditions we find the possibility of spectral line "narrowing", whereby a telescope could observe a line that is narrower than it is conventionally able to resolve. We discuss implications for the indirect search for dark matter, with particular reference to some recent controversial spectral lines.