Neutron Decay Anomaly and Its Effects on Neutron Star Properties

TL;DR

This paper explores how dark matter, influenced by the neutron decay anomaly, affects neutron star properties using relativistic models, providing new constraints on dark matter interactions from astrophysical observations.

Contribution

It develops nucleonic models incorporating dark matter effects within the RMF framework, satisfying key astrophysical constraints and analyzing the impact on neutron star properties.

Findings

Constraints on dark matter self-interactions from neutron star observations.

Model-dependent trends in dark matter interaction parameters.

Insights into the interplay between dark matter and neutron star observables.

Abstract

We investigate the effects of dark matter (DM) on neutron star (NS) properties using the neutron decay anomaly model within the relativistic mean-field (RMF) framework. Three nucleonic models (HCD0-HCD2) are developed, satisfying astrophysical constraints such as the maximum NS mass ($\geq 2 M_\odot$), the NICER mass-radius limits, and the tidal deformability constraint from the GW170817 event. The equation of states of the NS admixed with DM (DMANS) are calculated by incorporating the self-interactions between them. The macroscopic properties, such as mass, radius, and tidal deformability of the NSs, are obtained for HCD models along with five others by varying self-interaction strength. By combining NS observations with scattering cross-section constraints from galaxy clusters, we explore model-dependent trends in the DM self-interaction parameter space. While the quantitative bounds may vary with hadronic model choice, our analysis offers insights into the interplay between DM interactions and NS observables within the RMF framework.