DarkHistory: Modified cosmic ionization and thermal histories calculator
Abstract
DarkHistory calculates the global temperature and ionization history of the universe given an exotic source of energy injection, such as dark matter annihilation or decay. The software simultaneously solves for the evolution of the free electron fraction and gas temperature, and for the cooling of annihilation/decay products and the secondary particles produced in the process. Consequently, we can self-consistently include the effects of both astrophysical and exotic sources of heating and ionization, and automatically take into account backreaction, where modifications to the ionization/temperature history in turn modify the energy-loss processes for injected particles.
- Publication:
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Astrophysics Source Code Library
- Pub Date:
- July 2020
- Bibcode:
- 2020ascl.soft07010L
- Keywords:
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- Software