Dark Matter and its Effects on Helioseismology

TL;DR

This paper explores how helioseismology can be used to detect or constrain dark matter properties by modeling its effects on the Sun's internal structure and oscillation frequencies.

Contribution

It introduces modifications to the CESAM stellar evolution code to incorporate dark matter effects and analyzes their impact on solar oscillations.

Findings

Dark matter influences solar core heat transport.

Helioseismology can constrain dark matter properties.

WIMP models affect stellar oscillation frequencies.

Abstract

Helioseismology can be used to place new constraints on the properties of dark matter, allowing solar observations to complement more conventional dark matter searches currently in operation. During the course of its lifetime, the Sun accretes a sizeable amount of dark matter. This accreted matter affects the heat transport of the stellar core in ways that helioseismology can detect, or at least constrain. We modify the CESAM stellar evolution code to take account of dark matter and determine the effect of WIMP models on the stellar structure and normal-mode oscillation frequencies.