Dark Stars Powered by Self-Interacting Dark Matter

Understand

Dark matter annihilation might power the first luminous stars in the Universe.

• These types of stars, known as dark stars, could form in $(10^6\mathrm{-}10^8)\,M_\odot$ protohalos at redshifts $z \sim 20$, and they could be much more luminous and larger in size than ordinary stars powered by nuclear fusion.
• We investigate the formation of dark stars in the self-interacting dark matter (SIDM) scenario.
• We present a concrete particle physics model of SIDM that can simultaneously give rise to the observed dark matter density, satisfy constraints from astrophysical and terrestrial searches, and address the various small-scale problems of collisionless dark matter via the self-interactions.