News & Events

Dark Matter in Stars and Planets

Abstract:
I will discuss new ways that stars and planets can be used to discover Dark Matter (DM). This includes a new search for sub-GeV DM in exoplanets, where DM scatters, becomes captured, deposits annihilation energy, and increases the heat flow within exoplanets. I will discuss upcoming infrared telescope sensitivity to this scenario, detailing actionable discovery or exclusion searches, which lead to new tests of the DM-proton and DM-electron scattering cross sections. I will also discuss a new type of DM annihilation signal, which exploits the large Galactic center population of neutron stars and brown dwarfs.

McDonald Insititute seminars bring together experimental and theoretical astroparticle physicists and astronomers. They are held approximately fortnightly, September to November and January to March, and on an ad hoc basis outside of term. They currently take place on Tuesdays at 2:30 PM on Zoom. Contact Aaron Vincent if you would like to attend.

https://www.physics.queensu.ca/facultysites/vincent/seminars/