Implications of Neutron Star Properties for the Existence of Light Dark Matter

TL;DR

This paper investigates how hypothesized neutron decay into dark matter could conflict with observed neutron star properties, challenging the viability of such dark matter particles.

Contribution

It analyzes the impact of neutron decay into dark matter on neutron star characteristics, providing constraints on dark matter models based on astrophysical observations.

Findings

Neutron star properties conflict with the existence of nearly degenerate dark matter particles.

Constraints on dark matter properties derived from neutron star observations.

Potential exclusion of certain dark matter decay modes based on astrophysical data.

Abstract

It was recently suggested that the discrepancy between two methods of measuring the lifetime of the neutron may be a result of an unseen decay mode into a dark matter particle which is almost degenerate with the neutron. We explore the consequences of this for the properties of neutron stars, finding that their known properties are in conflict with the existence of such a particle.