PT Journal
AU Stadler, J
   Boehm, C
   Mena, O
TI Comprehensive study of neutrino-dark matter mixed damping
SO Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
JI J. Cosmol. Astropart. Phys.
PY 2019
BP 014
EP 23pp
VL 08
IS 8
DI 10.1088/1475-7516/2019/08/014
LA English
DE CMBR theory; cosmological perturbation theory; neutrino properties; power spectrum
AB Mixed damping is a physical effect that occurs when a heavy species is coupled to a relativistic fluid which is itself free streaming. As a cross-case between collisional damping and free-streaming, it is crucial in the context of neutrino-dark matter interactions. In this work, we establish the parameter space relevant for mixed damping, and we derive an analytical approximation for the evolution of dark matter perturbations in the mixed damping regime to illustrate the physical processes responsible for the suppression of cosmological perturbations. Although extended Boltzmann codes implementing neutrino-dark matter scattering terms automatically include mixed damping, this effect has not been systematically studied. In order to obtain reliable numerical results, it is mandatory to reconsider several aspects of neutrino-dark matter interactions, such as the initial conditions, the ultra-relativistic fluid approximation and high order multiple moments in the neutrino distribution. Such a precise treatment ensures the correct assessment of the relevance of mixed damping in neutrino-dark matter interactions.
ER