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arXiv · 0709.0131

How cold is cold dark matter? Small scales constraints from the flux power spectrum of the high-redshift Lyman-alpha forest

M. Viel·G. D. Becker·J. S. Bolton·M. G. Haehnelt·M. Rauch·W. L. W. Sargent
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Abstract

We present constraints on the mass of warm dark matter (WDM) particles derived from the Lyman-alpha flux power spectrum of 55 high- resolution HIRES spectra at 2.0 < z < 6.4. From the HIRES spectra, we obtain a lower limit of mwdm > 1.2 keV 2 sigma if the WDM consists of early decoupled thermal relics and mwdm > 5.6 keV (2 sigma) for sterile neutrinos. Adding the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Lyman-alpha flux power spectrum, we get mwdm > 4 keV and mwdm > 28 keV (2 sigma) for thermal relics and sterile neutrinos. These results improve previous constraints by a factor two.

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M. Viel, G. D. Becker, J. S. Bolton, M. G. Haehnelt, M. Rauch, W. L. W. Sargent. 2008-01-31. How cold is cold dark matter? Small scales constraints from the flux power spectrum of the high-redshift Lyman-alpha forest. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.100.041304

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