Constraining Dark Matter properties with the first generation of stars

Understand

Dark Matter (DM) can be trapped by the gravitational field of any star, since collisions with nuclei in dense environments can slow down the DM particle below the escape velocity ($v_{esc}$) at the surface of the star.

• If captured, the DM particles can self-annihilate, and, therefore, provide a new source of energy for the star.
• We investigate this phenomenon for capture of DM particles by the first generation of stars [Population III (Pop III) stars], by using the multiscatter capture formalism.
• Pop III stars are particularly good DM captors, since they form in DM-rich environments, at the center of$~\sim 10^6 M_\odot$ DM minihalos, at redshifts $z\sim 15$.