Dark Black Holes

Sarah Shandera
Penn State University

Abstract:

Gravitational wave detections of merging ultracompact objects provide a completely new way to constrain non-minimal dark matter models. If the dark matter consists of a rich spectrum of particles, it will generically contain channels for dissipative energy loss that can lead to the formation of compact objects. We have recently calculated a crucial set of processes for “atomic dark matter” that enable accurate calculations of the spectrum of black holes produced in this scenario. I will show how these results inform gravitational wave searches, as well as the first generation of accurate simulations of structure formation with dissipative dark matter. Current data, especially from searches for sub-solar mass objects, already provide new constraints on the particle physics properties of dark matter. A detection of a dark matter black hole in an upcoming search would be revolutionary, directly bounding the mass of the heaviest fermion in the atomic dark matter scenario and constraining the size of the dark molecular energy gap.

McDonald Institute 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 Thursdays at 2:30 PM in STI 501 and/or on Zoom. Contact Aaron Vincent if you would like to attend through zoom.