Self-interacting dark matter implied by nano-Hertz gravitational waves

The self-interacting dark matter (SIDM) paradigm offers a potential solution to the small-scale structure problems faced by collisionless cold dark matter. This framework incorporates self-interactions among dark matter particles, typically mediated by a particle with a MeV-scale mass. Recent evidences of nano-Hertz gravitational waves from pulsar timing arrays (PTAs) such as NANOGrav, CPTA, EPTA, and PPTA suggest the occurrence of a first-order phase transition (FOPT) at a MeV-scale temperature. Considering the close proximity between these two scales, we propose that the mediator mass in the SIDM model originates from the spontaneous breaking of a U(1)′ symmetry, which is driven by the FOPT indicated by PTA data. Consequently, the alignment of these two scales is believed to be deeply connected by the same underlying physics. By extensively exploring the parameter space, remarkably, we find that the parameter space favored by SIDM just provides an explanation for the PTA data.