The effects of asymmetric dark matter on stellar evolution - I. Spin-dependent scattering

We model energy transport resulting from scattering events between nucleons in stellar cores and spin-dependent asymmetric dark matter captured by the star’s gravitational potential. We find that in dark matter-rich environments, stars with radiative cores, roughly the mass of the sun, can have significantly flattened temperature and burning profiles which result in main sequence lifetimes that are increased by up to 20%. In slightly more massive stars which would otherwise have convective cores, the dark matter transports enough energy out of the core that convection shuts down, starving the star of fresh fuel and reducing main sequence lifetimes by up to 40%.