Constraining Asymmetric Dark Matter through observations of compact stars

TL;DR

This paper uses observations of white dwarfs and neutron stars to place constraints on asymmetric dark matter particles with spin-dependent interactions, providing bounds comparable to direct detection experiments for TeV-scale WIMPs.

Contribution

It introduces a novel astrophysical method to constrain asymmetric dark matter properties using compact star survival, extending limits to lower WIMP masses.

Findings

Constraints on WIMP-nucleon cross section are competitive with direct detection.

WIMPs can accumulate in stars and potentially form black holes, destroying the star.

Limits apply to WIMP masses down to the TeV scale.

Abstract

We put constraints on asymmetric dark matter candidates with spin-dependent interactions based on the simple existence of white dwarfs and neutron stars in globular clusters. For a wide range of the parameters (WIMP mass and WIMP-nucleon cross section), WIMPs can be trapped in progenitors in large numbers and once the original star collapses to a white dwarf or a neutron star, these WIMPs might self-gravitate and eventually collapse forming a mini-black hole that eventually destroys the star. We impose constraints competitive to direct dark matter search experiments, for WIMPs with masses down to the TeV scale.