Superheavy Dark Matter Production from Symmetry Restoration First-Order Phase Transition During Inflation

TL;DR

This paper explores a novel mechanism for producing superheavy dark matter during inflation through a symmetry restoration first-order phase transition, which also generates potentially detectable gravitational waves.

Contribution

It introduces a new scenario where superheavy dark matter is generated via a symmetry restoration phase transition during inflation, linking dark matter production with gravitational wave signals.

Findings

Superheavy dark matter can be produced during inflation via a first-order phase transition.

The phase transition can generate gravitational waves detectable by future experiments.

The relic abundance of dark matter can be explained by the latent heat released during the transition.

Abstract

We propose a scenario where superheavy dark matter (DM) can be produced via symmetry restoration first-order phase transition during inflation triggered by the evolution of the inflaton field. The phase transition happens in a spectator sector coupled to the inflaton field. During the phase transition, the spectator field tunnels from a symmetry-broken vacuum to a symmetry-restored vacuum. The massive particles produced after bubble collisions are protected against decaying by the restored symmetry and may serve as a DM candidate in the later evolution of the Universe. We show that the latent heat released during the phase transition can be sufficient to produce the DM relic abundance observed today. In addition, accompanied with the super heavy DM, this first-order phase transition also produces gravitational waves detectable via future gravitational wave detectors.