Dirac leptogenesis from asymmetry wash-in via scatterings

TL;DR

This paper shows that in Dirac leptogenesis, scatterings among Standard Model particles and Dirac neutrinos can generate matter-antimatter asymmetry without heavy particle decays, allowing lower reheating temperatures.

Contribution

It introduces a novel mechanism where asymmetry arises from wash-in processes via scatterings, eliminating the need for heavy particle production in the early universe.

Findings

Asymmetry generated through wash-in processes in Dirac leptogenesis.

Reheating temperature can be below heavy particle mass scale.

Potential observational signature as increased effective neutrinos.

Abstract

Leptogenesis typically requires the introduction of heavy particles whose out-of-equilibrium decays are essential for generating a matter-antimatter asymmetry, according to one of Sakharov's conditions. We demonstrate that in Dirac leptogenesis, scatterings between the light degrees of freedom -- Standard Model particles plus Dirac neutrinos - are sufficient to generate the asymmetry. The generation requires at least two effective charges conserved by the fast Standard Model interactions. Due to its vanishing source term in the Boltzmann equations, the asymmetry of right-handed neutrinos solely arises through wash-in processes. Sakharov's conditions are satisfied because the right-handed neutrino partners are out of equilibrium. Consequently, heavy degrees of freedom never needed to be produced in the early universe, allowing for a reheating temperature well below their mass scale. Considering a minimal leptoquark model, we discuss the viable parameter space along with the potential observational signature of an increased number of effective neutrinos in the early universe.