Dark Matter and Stars

Under the assumption that Dark Matter (DM) is composed of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs), it can affect the properties of stars. In the local Universe effects are feeble, nonetheless they can in principle be used in order to pose constraints on the nature of DM particles with observations of the Sun, and of compact objects at the Galactic Center, in Globular Clusters and in White Dwarf Galaxies. The first generation of stars to form (Population III) might have been affected in a more dramatic way from the effects of self-annihilating WIMP DM, and traces of this can be found in its properties. In the first part of my talk I will highlight the mechanism by which WIMPs can affect stars, and how local Universe can be used as lab for DM searches through stellar observables. I will devote the second part to draw a consistent picture of DM effects on the First Stars, from proto-stellar stages until stellar death. 

 

Fecha: 
31/05/2011 - 14:00
Conferenciante: 
Fabio Iocco
Filiación: 
Institute d'Astrophysique de Paris


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