| Speaker: | Alexander Kusenko (UCLA / Kavli IPMU) |
|---|---|
| Title: | Direct detection of dark matter in the form of primordial black holes |
| Date (JST): | Tue, Sep 08, 2026, 15:30 - 16:30 |
| Place: | Lecture Hall |
| Abstract: |
Primordial black holes (PBHs) with masses 10^17 - 10^23 g can account for all dark matter. To explore this mass range, one can use neutron stars and white dwarfs as a natural detector. When a PBH is captured by a neutron star, it settles in the center and consumes the host star from inside. The end stages of this process can be accompanied by a fast radio burst, a kilonova, and a gamma-ray burst, but unaccompanied by a gravitational-waves signature of merging compact stars. This combination of multimessenger signals can provide evidence for dark-matter PBHs or help rule them out. After the neutron star is consumed by the black hole, the remaining black hole surrounded by gas is consistent with the recently discovered G objects in the galactic center. Another promising way to explore PBH dark matter is afforded by white dwarfs (WD). When a PBH encounters a WD, it can ignite an unusual supernova. I will discuss the motivation, the formation scenarios, and the prospects for detecting PBHs via their interactions with compact stars. |
