Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Preprint |
| Published: |
2026
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.01543 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1866918332772384768 |
|---|---|
| author | Hoelscher, Zachary J. Kephart, Thomas W. Scherrer, Robert J. Holley-Bockelmann, Kelly |
| author_facet | Hoelscher, Zachary J. Kephart, Thomas W. Scherrer, Robert J. Holley-Bockelmann, Kelly |
| contents | The values of the Hubble constant ($\rm{H_0}$) inferred from the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and local measurements via the distance ladder exhibit a $\sim5σ$ tension. In this work we propose that the tension might be partially alleviated if a subcomponent of the dark matter undergoes decays triggered by spontaneous symmetry breaking in the dark sector, so that the equation of state parameter of the subcomponent shifts from $w \approx 0$ at early times to $w \approx -1/3$ at late times. We provide an effective field theory whose structure is partially motivated by the desire for a plausible UV completion. We find that such a construction naturally produces a possible self-interacting dark matter candidate with a velocity-dependent scattering cross section as a by-product of gauge invariance. This is relevant for addressing tensions between the predictions of $Λ$CDM and observations of small-scale structure, such as the core-cusp problem. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2602_01543 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Partial Relief of the Hubble Tension and a Natural Self-Interacting Dark Matter Candidate From Staged Symmetry Breaking Hoelscher, Zachary J. Kephart, Thomas W. Scherrer, Robert J. Holley-Bockelmann, Kelly Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics High Energy Physics - Theory The values of the Hubble constant ($\rm{H_0}$) inferred from the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and local measurements via the distance ladder exhibit a $\sim5σ$ tension. In this work we propose that the tension might be partially alleviated if a subcomponent of the dark matter undergoes decays triggered by spontaneous symmetry breaking in the dark sector, so that the equation of state parameter of the subcomponent shifts from $w \approx 0$ at early times to $w \approx -1/3$ at late times. We provide an effective field theory whose structure is partially motivated by the desire for a plausible UV completion. We find that such a construction naturally produces a possible self-interacting dark matter candidate with a velocity-dependent scattering cross section as a by-product of gauge invariance. This is relevant for addressing tensions between the predictions of $Λ$CDM and observations of small-scale structure, such as the core-cusp problem. |
| title | Partial Relief of the Hubble Tension and a Natural Self-Interacting Dark Matter Candidate From Staged Symmetry Breaking |
| topic | Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics High Energy Physics - Theory |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.01543 |