Constraining Dark-Matter Ensembles with Supernova Data

TL;DR

This paper explores how supernova observations can constrain models of dark matter that decay into dark radiation, especially when decay products are hidden from direct detection, filling a gap in existing constraints.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method to use supernova data to constrain dark-matter ensembles decaying into dark radiation, extending current bounds to less-explored decay channels.

Findings

Supernova data can place meaningful constraints on dark-matter decay into dark radiation.

Constraints are less stringent than those involving visible decay products but still significant.

The approach broadens the scope of cosmological tests for dark sector models.

Abstract

The constraints on non-minimal dark sectors involving ensembles of unstable dark-matter species are well established and quite stringent in cases in which these species decay to visible-sector particles. However, in cases in which these ensembles decay exclusively to other, lighter dark-sector states, the corresponding constraints are less well established. In this paper, we investigate how information about the expansion rate of the universe at low redshifts gleaned from observations of Type Ia supernovae can be used to constrain ensembles of unstable particles which decay primarily into dark radiation.