Finite Temperature Corrections to Relic Density Calculations

Abstract

In this paper we evaluate finite temperature corrections to the dark matter relic density within the context of minimal supersymmetry with a neutralino LSP. We identify several regions of parameter space where the WIMP annihilation cross section is especially sensitive to small corrections to the undelrlying parameters. In these regions, finite temperature effects have the potential to be important. However, we shall show by explicit calculation that these effects are small. In the regions we investigated, the maximal corrections are on the order of 10^{-4} and are therefore negligible compared with theoretical and experimental uncertainties.