Observational constraints on dark matter-dark energy scattering cross section

In this letter, we report precise and robust observational constraints on dark matter-dark energy scattering cross section, using the latest data from cosmic microwave background (CMB) Planck temperature and polarization, baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) measurements and weak gravitational lensing data from Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Lensing Survey (CFHTLenS). The scattering scenario consists of a pure momentum exchange between the dark components, and we find $\sigma_d < 10^{-29} \, {\rm cm^2}$ at 95\% CL from the joint analysis (CMB + BAO + CFHTLenS), for typical dark matter particle mass of the order 1-10 ${\rm GeV}/c^2$. We notice that the scattering among the dark components may influence the growth of large scale structure in the Universe, leaving the background cosmology unaltered.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, Minor changes/additions, Matches the version published in EPJ

Comparison between the Logotropic and Λ\LambdaCDM models at the cosmological scale

We perform a detailed comparison between the Logotropic model [P.H. Chavanis, Eur. Phys. J. Plus 130 (2015) 130] and the $\Lambda$CDM model. These two models behave similarly at large (cosmological) scales up to the present. Differences will appear only in the far future, in about $25\, {\rm Gyrs}$, when the Logotropic Universe becomes phantom while the $\Lambda$CDM Universe enters in the de Sitter era. However, the Logotropic model differs from the $\Lambda$CDM model at small (galactic) scales, where the latter encounters serious problems. Having a nonvanishing pressure, the Logotropic model can solve the cusp problem and the missing satellite problem of the $\Lambda$CDM model. In addition, it leads to dark matter halos with a constant surface density $\Sigma_0=\rho_0 r_h$, and can explain its observed value $\Sigma_0=141 \, M_{\odot}/{\rm pc}^2$ without adjustable parameter. This makes the logotropic model rather unique among all the models attempting to unify dark matter and dark energy. In this paper, we compare the Logotropic and $\Lambda$CDM models at the cosmological scale where they are very close to each other in order to determine quantitatively how much they differ. This comparison is facilitated by the fact that these models depend on only two parameters, the Hubble constant $H_0$ and the present fraction of dark matter $\Omega_{\rm m0}$. Using the latest observational data from Planck 2015+Lensing+BAO+JLA+HST, we find that the best fit values of $H_0$ and $\Omega_{\rm m0}$ are $H_0=68.30\, {\rm km}\, {\rm s}^{-1}\,{\rm Mpc}^{-1}$ and $\Omega_{\rm m0}=0.3014$ for the Logotropic model, and $H_0=68.02\, {\rm km}\, {\rm s}^{-1}\,{\rm Mpc}^{-1}$ and $\Omega_{\rm m0}=0.3049$ for the $\Lambda$CDM model. The difference between the two models appears at the percent level.Comment: 37 pages, 14 figures; New appendix and references adde

Structure of the twin-arginine signal-binding protein DmsD from Escherichia coli

The translocation of folded proteins via the twin-arginine translocation (Tat) pathway is regulated to prevent the futile export of inactive substrate. DmsD is part of a class of cytoplasmic chaperones that play a role in preventing certain redox proteins from premature transport. DmsD from Escherichia coli has been crystallized in space group P4_12_12, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 97.45, c = 210.04 Å, in the presence of a small peptide. The structure has been solved by molecular replacement to a resolution of 2.4 Å and refined to an R factor of 19.4%. There are four molecules in the asymmetric unit that may mimic a higher order structure in vivo. There appears to be density for the peptide in a predicted binding pocket, which lends support to its role as the signal-recognition surface for this class of proteins