Supermassive Dark Stars: Detectable in JWST and HST

TL;DR

This paper discusses the potential existence of supermassive dark stars powered by dark matter annihilation, their properties, evolution, and prospects for detection with JWST and HST, and their role in forming supermassive black holes.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of supermassive dark stars, detailing their characteristics, evolution, and potential observability, linking them to the origin of supermassive black holes.

Findings

Dark stars can grow > 10^5 solar masses and are detectable by JWST and HST.

They are relatively cool (~10^4 K) and very bright during their dark matter-powered phase.

Dark stars may collapse into black holes that seed supermassive black holes.

Abstract

The first stars to form in the history of the universe may have been powered by dark matter annihilation rather than by fusion. This new phase of stellar evolution may have lasted millions to billions of years. These dark stars can grow to be very large, > 10^5 solar masses, and are relatively cool (~10^4 K). They are also very bright, being potentially detectable in the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope or even the Hubble Space Telescope. Once the dark matter runs out, the dark stars have a short fusion phase, before collapsing into black holes (BH). The resulting BH could serve as seeds for the (unexplained) supermassive black holes at high redshift and at the centers of galaxies.