Dark matter silences Cepheids in the Galactic Center

Croon D, Linden T, Sakstein J (2026)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2026

Journal

Physical Review D American Physical Society

Book Volume: 113

Pages Range: 043003-1-043003-9

Journal Issue: 4

DOI: 10.1103/pbgr-66b9

Abstract

Upcoming near-infrared facilities (e.g., JWST/NIRCam, ELT/MICADO) will dramatically increase the detectability of Galactic Center Cepheids despite extreme extinction at optical wavelengths. In this work, we study the impact of dark matter (DM) annihilation on Cepheid stars in the inner parsec of the Milky Way. We show that at captured densities ρ ∼ 10⁵ GeV cm⁻³, blue loop evolution can be suppressed, preventing the formation of low-mass (3–6M⊙) short-period (1–6 days) Cepheids. For even slightly higher DM densities, Cepheids are suppressed across their entire mass range. A dearth of such variables could provide indirect evidence for DM heating. Notably, this effect occurs at lower DM densities than required to impact mainsequence stars. Future surveyswill thus offer a novel, complementary probe ofDMproperties in galactic nuclei.

Involved external institutions

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

United States (USA) (US) Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology

United Kingdom (GB) The Oskar Klein Centre

Sweden (SE)

How to cite

APA:

Croon, D., Linden, T., & Sakstein, J. (2026). Dark matter silences Cepheids in the Galactic Center. Physical Review D, 113(4), 043003-1-043003-9. https://doi.org/10.1103/pbgr-66b9

MLA:

Croon, Djuna, Tim Linden, and Jeremy Sakstein. "Dark matter silences Cepheids in the Galactic Center." Physical Review D 113.4 (2026): 043003-1-043003-9.

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