Enhancement of dark matter capture by neutron stars in binary systems


Abstract in English

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 case of the binary pulsar PSR J1906+0746 with the orbital period of 4 hours the amplification factor is 3.5. This amplification can be attributed to the energy loss by dark matter particles resulting from their gravitational scattering off moving companions.

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