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Possible interaction between baryons and dark-matter particles revealed by the first stars

4 Pith papers cite this work. Polarity classification is still indexing.

4 Pith papers citing it
abstract

The cosmic radio-frequency spectrum is expected to show a strong absorption signal corresponding to the 21-centimetre-wavelength transition of atomic hydrogen around redshift 20, which arises from Lyman-alpha radiation from some of the earliest stars. By observing this 21-centimetre signal - either its sky-averaged spectrum or maps of its fluctuations, obtained using radio interferometers - we can obtain information about cosmic dawn, the era when the first astrophysical sources of light were formed. The recent detection of the global 21-centimetre spectrum reveals a stronger absorption than the maximum predicted by existing models, at a confidence level of 3.8 standard deviations. Here we report that this absorption can be explained by the combination of radiation from the first stars and excess cooling of the cosmic gas induced by its interaction with dark matter. Our analysis indicates that the spatial fluctuations of the 21-centimetre signal at cosmic dawn could be an order of magnitude larger than previously expected and that the dark-matter particle is no heavier than several proton masses, well below the commonly predicted mass of weakly interacting massive particles. Our analysis also confirms that dark matter is highly non-relativistic and at least moderately cold, and primordial velocities predicted by models of warm dark matter are potentially detectable. These results indicate that 21-centimetre cosmology can be used as a dark-matter probe.

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UNVERDICTED 4

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representative citing papers

Letter of Intent: The Forward Physics Facility

hep-ex · 2025-10-30 · unverdicted · novelty 5.0

Proposes construction of the Forward Physics Facility at the HL-LHC with four complementary detectors to exploit forward neutrinos and new-particle fluxes for neutrino, QCD, astroparticle, and dark-matter measurements.

Fast Simultaneous Surveys with On-the-Fly Mapping

astro-ph.IM · 2026-06-24 · unverdicted · novelty 4.0

MeerKLASS applies on-the-fly imaging on MeerKAT for a 10,000 sq. deg. UHF-band continuum survey at 14 arcsec resolution and 25 μJy/beam rms, run commensally with HI intensity mapping.

Cosmological searches for the neutrino mass scale and mass ordering

astro-ph.CO · 2019-07-18 · unverdicted · novelty 4.0

Thesis summarizing an upper limit of 0.12 eV on the neutrino mass sum, bias calibration via CMB lensing cross-correlations, and tighter limits plus stronger normal-ordering preference in non-phantom dynamical dark energy models.

citing papers explorer

Showing 4 of 4 citing papers.

  • Letter of Intent: The Forward Physics Facility hep-ex · 2025-10-30 · unverdicted · none · ref 158 · internal anchor

    Proposes construction of the Forward Physics Facility at the HL-LHC with four complementary detectors to exploit forward neutrinos and new-particle fluxes for neutrino, QCD, astroparticle, and dark-matter measurements.

  • Fast Simultaneous Surveys with On-the-Fly Mapping astro-ph.IM · 2026-06-24 · unverdicted · none · ref 29 · internal anchor

    MeerKLASS applies on-the-fly imaging on MeerKAT for a 10,000 sq. deg. UHF-band continuum survey at 14 arcsec resolution and 25 μJy/beam rms, run commensally with HI intensity mapping.

  • Cosmological searches for the neutrino mass scale and mass ordering astro-ph.CO · 2019-07-18 · unverdicted · none · ref 166 · internal anchor

    Thesis summarizing an upper limit of 0.12 eV on the neutrino mass sum, bias calibration via CMB lensing cross-correlations, and tighter limits plus stronger normal-ordering preference in non-phantom dynamical dark energy models.

  • CMB-S4 Science Case, Reference Design, and Project Plan astro-ph.IM · 2019-07-10 · unverdicted · none · ref 287 · internal anchor

    Presents the science case, reference design, and project plan for the CMB-S4 ground-based CMB experiment.