Probing strange dark matter through f-mode oscillations of neutron stars with hyperons and quark matter

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Authors: Mahboubeh Shahrbaf, Prashant Thakur, Davood Rafiei Karkevandi
Cited by: 4
References: 119

Abstract

Abstract We investigate the impact of a hypothetical bosonic dark matter (DM) candidate, the sexaquark, on the fundamental ( f -mode) oscillations of neutron stars (NSs). By varying the DM particle mass and considering different core compositions including hypernuclear matter, sexaquark DM, and deconfined quark matter (QM), we construct hybrid equations of state (EOS) with a smooth hadron-quark crossover that remain consistent with current astrophysical constraints on mass ( M ), radius ( R ), and tidal deformability (Λ). Our analysis shows that the presence of these exotic components systematically alters quasi-universal f -mode relations considering f -mode frequency ( f ), damping time ( τ ), compactness ( C ), and angular velocity ( ω ). In particular, relations involving f -√( M / R 3 ), ( R 4 / M 3 τ )( C ), ω M ( C ), require higher-order polynomial fits compared to standard studies. Quadratic forms remain sufficient for f -√( M / R 3 ) and ω M ( C ), while damping-time relations such as ( R 4 / M 3 τ)( C ) demand higher-order corrections to capture their curvature. For f (Λ), a cubic fit provides a satisfactory description. Within this extended framework the relations remain tight and effectively composition independent. These results suggest that precise f -mode measurements with future gravitational-wave detectors could provide clear signatures of DM and other exotic matter in NS interiors.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research

Publication details

Journal / source
Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Publisher
IOP Publishing
Volume
2026
Issue
03
Pages
017–017
Publication date
1 March 2026
Language
EN