High Energy Physics Seminar

Our limited understanding of dark matter motivates exploring a wide range of masses and interaction strengths, independent of specific mediators or production mechanisms. Astrophysical systems, with their high energies and long lifetimes, provide unique laboratories for this pursuit. I will discuss two mechanisms by which dark matter can leave measurable imprints on astrophysical systems, even without annihilations. In the first, I show that dark matter can kinetically heat even low density objects, if a long range force exists purely in the dark sector. In the second, I demonstrate the kinematic effect that dark matter interactions can have on orbital measurements in dark matter rich environments like the galactic center.

The talk is in 469 Lauritsen.

Contact [email protected] for Zoom link.