Dark Matter Production During Reheating

Explore dark matter production mechanisms during the reheating phase of the early universe in this research seminar presented by Maira Dutra from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Delve into the theoretical frameworks and computational models that describe how dark matter particles could have been generated during the post-inflationary epoch when the universe transitioned from a cold, empty state to a hot, radiation-dominated phase. Examine the interplay between particle physics and cosmology as the speaker discusses various production channels, including gravitational particle creation, decay processes, and thermal mechanisms that could account for the observed dark matter abundance. Gain insights into current research methodologies used to study reheating dynamics and their implications for dark matter phenomenology, including constraints from observational data and predictions for future detection experiments. Learn about the challenges in modeling these early universe processes and how advances in theoretical physics are helping to refine our understanding of dark matter's cosmic origins.