HEP Theory Journal Club

Light Dark Photon as Dark Matter from Inflation

Ziwei Wang

McGill

In this talk, we will discuss the production of light dark photon as dark matter candidate during inflation. Through a coupling between the dark U(1) gauge field and the inflaton, the accumulated energy density associated with the quantum fluctuations of the dark photon accounts for the energy density of dark matter. The dark photon with a large wavelength is efficiently produced due to the inflaton motion during inflation and becomes non-relativistic before the time of matter-radiation equality. The correct relic abundance is realized with a dark photon mass extending down to 10^-21 eV.