Hints of noncold dark matter? Observational constraints on barotropic dark matter with a constant equation of state parameter

TL;DR

This paper explores a cosmological model with barotropic dark matter having a constant equation of state, showing it can reduce the $S_8$ tension and is marginally favored over $ ext{ extLambda}$CDM with current data.

Contribution

It introduces and constrains the $ ext{ extLambda}w$DM model, demonstrating its potential to address the $S_8$ tension and its slight preference over standard cosmology.

Findings

$ ext{ extLambda}w$DM marginally preferred over $ ext{ extLambda}$CDM.

$ ext{ extLambda}w$DM alleviates the $S_8$ tension from >3σ to <1σ.

Non-zero $w_{ m dm}$ is marginally favored at 95\

Abstract

This study investigates the potential of a cosmological model termed $\Lambda w$DM, in which a cosmological constant play the role of dark energy and dark matter is barotropic and has a constant equation of state parameter ($w_{\rm dm}$), to address the $S_8$ tension between early- and late- universe observations. By incorporating the latest cosmological datasets -- including Planck Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), Baryon Acoustic Oscillation (BAO), Ia supernovae (SNe Ia), Redshift Space Distortions (RSD), and weak lensing (WL) -- we constrain the $\Lambda w$DM compared to $\Lambda$CDM. Our analysis reveals a marginal preference for a non-zero $w_{\rm dm}=2.7^{+2.0}_{-1.9}\times10^{-7}$( at 95\% confidence level) when combining CMB, SDSS BAO, SNe Ia, RSD, and WL data, and a marginal preference for a non-zero $w_{\rm dm} = 2.29^{+1.9}_{-2.0} \times 10^{-7}$( at 95\% confidence level) when combining CMB, DESI Y1 BAO, SNe Ia, RSD, and WL data. In addition, we find that, compared to $\Lambda$CDM, $\Lambda w$DM can alleviate the $S_8$ tension from $>3\sigma$ to $<1\sigma$. Furthermore, we find that, for CMB+SDSS+PP+RSD+WL datasets, the $\Lambda w$DM model is close to being positively preferred over the $\Lambda$CDM model.