Accurate estimate of the relic density and the kinetic decoupling in non-thermal dark matter models

Understand

Non-thermal dark matter generation is an appealing alternative to the standard paradigm of thermal WIMP dark matter.

• We reconsider non-thermal production mechanisms in a systematic way, and develop a numerical code for accurate computations of the dark matter relic density.
• We discuss in particular scenarios with long-lived massive states decaying into dark matter particles, appearing naturally in several beyond the standard model theories, such as supergravity and superstring frameworks.
• Since non-thermal production favors dark matter candidates with large pair annihilation rates, we analyze the possible connection with the anomalies detected in the lepton cosmic-ray flux by Pamela and Fermi.