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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
| Published: |
2025
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.19547 |
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| _version_ | 1866912907330060288 |
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| author | Srikanth, Rohan Dietrich, Tim Clough, Katy |
| author_facet | Srikanth, Rohan Dietrich, Tim Clough, Katy |
| contents | Binary neutron star mergers provide a laboratory for probing fundamental physics through their gravitational-wave emission and electromagnetic counterparts. In particular, they may allow us to explore signatures of physics beyond the Standard Model in strong-gravity regimes, such as those of dark matter. In this work, we investigate the dynamics of light dark matter, modeled as a minimally coupled scalar field, surrounding a binary neutron star system. Our primary focus is to assess whether the scalar field remains bound to the binary over the late inspiral-merger timescales and to determine its potential impact on observable signatures. We find that, in a range of scenarios, the scalar field forms a common cloud around the binary that does not disperse. At sufficiently high densities, this leads to measurable effects, including a dephasing of the binary inspiral, a less compact post-merger remnant, and suppression of the dynamical ejecta. For densities motivated by astrophysical considerations, however, these effects remain small and are unlikely to be detectable with current or next-generation gravitational-wave observatories. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2510_19547 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Numerical simulations of Scalar Dark Matter Around Binary Neutron Star mergers Srikanth, Rohan Dietrich, Tim Clough, Katy General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology Binary neutron star mergers provide a laboratory for probing fundamental physics through their gravitational-wave emission and electromagnetic counterparts. In particular, they may allow us to explore signatures of physics beyond the Standard Model in strong-gravity regimes, such as those of dark matter. In this work, we investigate the dynamics of light dark matter, modeled as a minimally coupled scalar field, surrounding a binary neutron star system. Our primary focus is to assess whether the scalar field remains bound to the binary over the late inspiral-merger timescales and to determine its potential impact on observable signatures. We find that, in a range of scenarios, the scalar field forms a common cloud around the binary that does not disperse. At sufficiently high densities, this leads to measurable effects, including a dephasing of the binary inspiral, a less compact post-merger remnant, and suppression of the dynamical ejecta. For densities motivated by astrophysical considerations, however, these effects remain small and are unlikely to be detectable with current or next-generation gravitational-wave observatories. |
| title | Numerical simulations of Scalar Dark Matter Around Binary Neutron Star mergers |
| topic | General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.19547 |