English

Impact of dark matter distribution on neutron star properties

High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena 2025-01-14 v1 High Energy Physics - Theory Nuclear Theory

Abstract

We investigate the structural and observable impacts of dark matter (DM) on neutron stars using a combined equation of state that integrates the relativistic mean field (RMF) model for baryonic matter with a variable density profile for DM, incorporating DM-baryon interactions mediated by the Higgs field. Employing three RMF parameter sets (NL3, BigApple, and IOPB-I) for baryonic matter, we analyze mass-radius relations, maximum mass, and tidal deformability, focusing on DM density scaling (α\alpha) and steepness (β\beta) parameters. Our findings reveal that increased DM concentration significantly enhances NS compactness, shifting mass-radius profiles and reducing tidal deformability. The DM influence strongly depends on the steepness of the DM density profile, where high β\beta values lead to strongly confined DM within the NS core, resulting in more compact and less deformable configurations. Observational constraints from PSR J0740+6620 and GW170817 impose consistent structural limits on DM fractions across different equations of state models, narrowing the allowable parameter space for DM and linking specific combinations of αMχ\alpha M_{\chi} (MχM_{\chi} being the mass of dark matter particle) and β\beta values to viable NS structures. This study highlights the interplay among DM concentration, nuclear stiffness, and observational data in shaping NS structure, offering insights into future constraints on DM in high-density astrophysical environments.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2501.07052,
  title  = {Impact of dark matter distribution on neutron star properties},
  author = {Ankit Kumar and Hajime Sotani},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2501.07052},
  year   = {2025}
}