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Abstract |
In this talk a new production mechanism for vector dark matter (VDM) is presented in which
the VDM is produced at the end of inflation. This mechanism relies on a pseudo scalar
coupling between the inflaton and the vector field strength which leads to a tachyonic
instability and exponential production of one transverse polarization of the vector field,
reaching its maximum near the end of inflation. These polarized transverse vectors can
account for the observed dark matter relic density in the mass range micro-eV to tens of TeV.
Furthermore, since they are produced coherently with very high occupation number and with a
single polarization, the nature of the VDM today is in the form of helical dark matter fields
who's typical size is determined by the Hubble scale at the end of inflation. Some of the
potential phenomenology of these objects is also discussed. |
