Minimal self-interacting dark matter models with light mediator

Understand

The light mediator scenario of self-interacting dark matter is strongly constrained in many ways.

• After summarizing the various constraints, we discuss minimal options and models which allow to nevertheless satisfy all these constraints.
• One straightforward possibility arises if the dark matter and light mediator particles have a temperature sizably smaller than the SM particles.
• Another simple possibility arises if dark matter doesn't annihilate dominantly into a pair of light mediators but into heavier particles.