Proton capture in compact dark stars and observable implications

Understand

Asymmetric dark matter under certain conditions could form compact star-like objects, which can be searched either through gravitational lensing or by observation of gravitational waves from binaries involving such compact objects.

• In this paper we analyze possible signatures of such dark stars made of asymmetric dark matter with a portal to the Standard Model.
• We argue that compact dark stars could capture protons and electrons from the interstellar medium, which then accumulate in the core of the dark star, forming a very hot gas that emits X-rays or $\gamma$-rays.
• For dark matter parameters compatible with current laboratory constraints, compact dark stars could be sufficiently luminous to be detected at the Earth as point sources in the X-ray or $\gamma$-ray sky.