Enhancement of dark matter capture by neutron stars in binary systems
Lionel Brayeur1, Peter Tinyakov
1Service de Physique Théorique, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1050 Brussels, Belgium. lbrayeur@vub.ac.be
Abstract:
We study the capture of dark matter particles by neutron stars in close binary systems. By performing a direct numerical simulation, we find that there is a sizable amplification of the rate of dark matter capture by each of the companions. In the case of the binary pulsar PSR J1906+0746 with the orbital period of 4 hours the amplification factor is approximately equal to 3.5. This amplification can be attributed to the energy loss by dark matter particles resulting from their gravitational scattering off moving companions.
Related Concept Videos
Nuclear Overhauser Enhancement (NOE)
Detection of Black Holes
Their closest cousins are neutron stars, which are composed almost entirely of neutrons packed against each other, making them extremely dense. A neutron star has the same mass as the Sun but its diameter is only a few kilometers. Therefore, the escape velocity from their surface is close to the speed of light.
Not until the 1960s, when the first neutron...
Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Relaxation Processes
Atomic Nuclei: Magnetic Resonance
Double Resonance Techniques: Overview
Spin decoupling is usually achieved by...
NMR Spectroscopy: Spin–Spin Coupling


