High Energy Physics Seminar

Light boson dark matter, such as dark photons and axions, can resonantly convert into electromagnetic excitations in astrophysical and cosmological plasmas, providing powerful probes of light dark matter. Existing constraints and detection strategies typically assume linear plasma response. In this talk, I discuss how nonlinear plasma dynamics qualitatively modify this picture. Focusing on recent results for dark photon dark matter, I show that resonant growth can drive plasma instabilities that shut off conversion, substantially altering cosmological bounds. I will end with some general lessons for light boson dark matter searches in astrophysics and cosmology.

The talk is in 469 Lauritsen.

Contact [email protected] for Zoom link.