Explore how dark matter candidates interact with cosmic structures, address CDM model tensions, and the latest insights from detection experiments and gravitational wave astronomy.

The observed cosmic acceleration and the anisotropic distribution of dark matter in galaxy clusters, evidenced by the Sunyaev-Zel’dovich effect and weak lensing, have deep implications for our understanding of dark matter and the evolution of cosmic structures. Dark matter candidates such as Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs), axions, sterile neutrinos, and fuzzy dark matter each interact differently with cosmic structures, influencing large-scale structure formation, the cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropies, and the formation of the first galaxies.

1. Dark Matter Candidates and Cosmic Structure Formation:
   • WIMPs (Weakly Interacting Massive Particles): As the most widely studied candidate, WIMPs are thought to interact with normal matter via the weak nuclear force. They are critical in the formation of cosmic structures through their gravitational effects. In the early universe, WIMPs would have contributed to the dark matter density, affecting how matter clustered together, influencing the formation of galaxies and larger structures.
   • Axions: These extremely light particles are hypothesized to solve the strong CP problem in quantum chromodynamics (QCD) but also contribute to dark matter. Axions would impact large-scale structure formation in ways that differ from WIMPs, likely affecting the CMB and the distribution of galaxies through their gravitational effects.
   • Sterile Neutrinos: These hypothetical particles are a form of dark matter that interacts only via gravity and the weak nuclear force. Sterile neutrinos may contribute to the formation of cosmic structures differently, with their decay potentially producing X-rays, which could provide additional insights into their properties.
   • Fuzzy Dark Matter (FDM): FDM, a form of ultra-light bosonic particles, leads to different gravitational signatures compared to WIMPs and other candidates. These particles can create smooth, extended structures and have been proposed to explain certain anomalies in small-scale cosmic structure formation, including the absence of dense central cores in galaxies.
2. Tension Between Cold Dark Matter (CDM) Predictions and Small-Scale Anomalies: The current Lambda-CDM model (Cold Dark Matter with a cosmological constant) successfully explains the large-scale structure of the universe, but it faces challenges when it comes to small-scale structures:
   • The Missing Satellite Problem: CDM predicts a much higher number of small satellite galaxies around large galaxies like the Milky Way than are actually observed. This discrepancy suggests that either dark matter behaves differently on small scales, or additional physical processes (such as baryonic feedback) are at play.
   • The Cusp-Core Problem: CDM models predict that galaxies should have dense, cuspy cores of dark matter. However, observations of many galaxies suggest the presence of more diffuse, cored profiles.

   These anomalies drive the consideration of alternative models:

   • Self-Interacting Dark Matter (SIDM): SIDM proposes that dark matter particles interact with each other in addition to gravity, which could explain the smoothening of dark matter distributions in small galaxies. This could help resolve the missing satellite and cusp-core problems by reducing the number of small satellites and modifying the density profiles of galaxies.
   • Quantum Effects in Ultra-light Dark Matter: Fuzzy dark matter (FDM) suggests that quantum effects from ultra-light particles could prevent the formation of dense cores, thereby resolving the cusp-core problem. FDM may also provide a smoother density distribution that better matches observed small-scale structures.
3. Implications of Recent Detection Experiments and Observational Constraints:
   • XENON1T: This experiment, designed to detect WIMPs through their interactions with xenon atoms, has provided some of the strongest limits on WIMP interactions. While no definitive signal has been detected, the experiment’s results push forward our understanding of dark matter’s properties.
   • Gravitational Wave Astronomy: Gravitational waves, particularly from compact objects like black hole mergers, offer indirect evidence of dark matter. Anomalies in gravitational wave signals could hint at the presence of dark matter in unexpected forms, including ultra-light dark matter.
   • E-LISA Mission: The upcoming E-LISA mission, which aims to observe gravitational waves in space, could provide further constraints on dark matter candidates. The data from E-LISA could reveal the effects of dark matter on cosmic structures, such as how its distribution impacts the formation of galaxies and other large-scale structures.

The study of dark matter candidates, combined with observations from experiments like XENON1T and space-based missions like E-LISA, is central to resolving the mysteries of cosmic structure formation. While the Lambda-CDM model provides a successful framework on large scales, the small-scale anomalies push the need for alternative models, including SIDM and quantum effects in ultra-light dark matter, to better explain the behavior of dark matter in galaxy clusters and the formation of the first galaxies.