Dimming Starlight with Dark Compact Objects

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel method to detect dark compact objects by observing their dimming effects on starlight during microlensing events, offering a new way to explore dark matter.

Contribution

It proposes a new technique to identify dark compact objects through light dispersion effects, utilizing existing microlensing survey data for dark matter research.

Findings

Existing data can constrain dark sectors.

Dimming effects can indicate dark compact objects.

Method offers a new avenue for dark matter detection.

Abstract

We demonstrate a new technique to search for dark compact objects. When dark matter comprising a dark compact object interacts with photons, the compact object can disperse light traveling though it. As these objects pass between Earth and a distant star, they act as "lampshades" that dim the star. We examine how dimming effects from clumps of dark matter in the Galaxy could be searched for in microlensing surveys, which measure the brightness of stars as a function of time. Using the EROS-2 and OGLE surveys, we show that a dimming analysis of existing data can be used to constrain dark sectors, and could be used to discover dark matter in compact objects.