M. Tytgat, Brussels, [HET Seminar] Exotic Dark Matter in Compact Stars

Thursday 5 Feb 2026, 11:00 → 13:00 US/Eastern

Small Seminar Room

Abstract : Neutron stars are powerful laboratories for probing the physics of dark matter. In this talk, I examine how asymmetric fermionic dark matter with self-interactions or exotic properties can accumulate inside neutron stars and trigger gravitational collapse. I begin by reviewing the current state of the field and the conditions under which dark matter can significantly impact neutron star evolution. I then discuss the phase structure of interacting fermionic dark matter at finite density and its impact on the equation of state. Building on this framework, I show how dark matter accumulation can lead to the formation of seed black holes that consume neutron stars, producing solar-mass black holes beyond standard stellar evolution. Finally, I consider scenarios with extra spatial dimensions, which further enhance this instability and yield stronger constraints on dark matter properties. These phenomena provide novel astrophysical and gravitational-wave signatures that can be used to test the nature of dark matter.

 

https://bnl.zoomgov.com/j/16010362754?pwd=Z1l1SS9JUDlyR1hSUHNyaDV1dTZHUT09