Speaker
Description
The post-inflationary reheating era plays a pivotal role in shaping the thermal history of the Universe,
yet its dynamics remain poorly understood. In this talk, I will examine how various reheating scenarios impact dark matter (DM) production, encompassing both thermal and non-thermal origins.
Using general parametrizations for the Hubble expansion rate and the evolution of the Standard
Model temperature, I will present a unified framework to study DM genesis, including freeze-out
mechanisms (WIMPs, SIMPs, ELDERs, Cannibals), ultra-relativistic freeze-out (UFO) and freeze-in
processes (both infrared and ultraviolet regimes). These dynamics can significantly alter the viable
DM parameter space, enabling much heavier thermal DM candidates and extending the reach for
light feebly interacting particles. I will highlight the interplay between theoretical predictions and
experimental constraints, emphasizing how future searches could uncover distinctive imprints of
DM production during reheating.