New Avenues For Dark Matter Production

Dark Matter contributes to approximately the 30% of the energy budget of the Universe. It is then crucial to a Dark Matter model to accommodate a generation mechanism capable of accounting for this experimental evidence. Dark Matter production mechanism are proposed especially in the context of Particle Physics proposal for solutions to the Dark Matter Puzzle. In these scenarios the relic density is tight to fundamental properties of the Dark Matter candidate as its mass and possible couplings with the Standard Model States, which can be possible tested at Dark Matter experiments. The most famous example is represented by the thermal freeze-out paradigm in which the relic density is univocally determine by the pair annihilation cross-section of the Dark Matter candidate.

The primary goal of the research topic will be to explore alternative roads, with respect to popular scenarios as standard freeze-out, in the context of dark matter production. The objectives will be to collect the most recent results in the field as well as illustrate new ideas.
A secondary goal will be represented by the exploration of possible connections between the Dark Matter and other major puzzles like Baryogenesis and Dark Energy.

We encourage the authors to discuss:
- Alternative Dark Matter production mechanisms, with respect to the most popular proposals such as Standard freeze-out theory.
- Possibility of non-standard cosmological histories for the Early Universe
- Connection with baryogenesis and/or dark energy.
Such alternative production mechanism should be discussed within concrete and realistic models. While particle physics models are the most natural framework, non-particle physics scenario will receive nevertheless consideration.
We invite authors to mainly contribute to this Research Topic in the form of Original Research Papers and Mini-Reviews. Nevertheless, other kinds of contributions are welcome.