Probing the dark matter-electron interactions via hydrogen-atmosphere pulsating white dwarfs

TL;DR

This paper proposes using pulsating white dwarfs in globular clusters to detect dark matter-electron interactions by observing changes in pulsation periods caused by dark matter annihilation energy, offering a new astrophysical probe.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method to detect dark matter-electron interactions through asteroseismology of white dwarfs, connecting pulsation period variations with dark matter properties.

Findings

Potential sensitivity to dark matter mass range 5 GeV to 10^4 GeV.

Detectable cross sections could be as low as 10^{-40} cm^2.

Method offers a complementary approach to indirect dark matter detection.

Abstract

In this work, we propose a novel scenario to probe the interactions between dark matter (DM) particles and electrons, via hydrogen-atmosphere pulsating white dwarfs (DAVs) in globular clusters. In this special configuration, the DM particles, which are predominantly captured by multiple scattering with the electrons in a DAV, would annihilate by pairs and provide extra energy source to the DAV. This mechanism slows down the natural cooling evolution which can be presented by the period variation rates of pulsation modes. The differences between the secular rates predicted by the precise asteroseismology and the secular rates obtained from observation can reveal the DM-electron interactions. An important observable has been proposed and corresponding estimations have been made. According to the estimation, if this scenario could be implemented in the near future, the potential sensitivity on $m_{\chi}$ (DM particle's mass) and $\sigma_{\chi,e}$ (elastic scattering cross section between DM and electron) could be hopefully extended to a region $5 \mathrm{GeV} \lesssim m_{\chi} \lesssim 10^{4} \mathrm{GeV}$ and $\sigma_{\chi,e} \gtrsim 10^{-40} \mathrm{cm}^{2}$. Combining with indirect DM detection results, this could give us a cross check on the existence of such leptonphilic DM particles to some extent.