arXiv subjects

Boris Betancourt Kamenetskaia

Publications and source records attributed to Boris Betancourt Kamenetskaia.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Reconstructing the Dark Matter Equation of State with Compact Object Inspirals

We investigate the gravitational wave (GW) signatures of compact binaries embedded in extended dark matter (DM) configurations in hydrostatic equilibrium. If a neutron star is surrounded by a sufficiently massive and extended envelope, an inspiraling companion experiences dynamical friction (DF) in addition to the standard GW energy loss. We show that this environmental effect can be isolated through a GW observable, the $D$-function, which directly characterizes the additional dissipative power induced by the surrounding medium. Since the density of the envelope is directly determined by the DM equation of state together with the stellar boundary conditions, the frequency dependence of the $D$-function provides direct information about the macroscopic properties of the dark sector. We develop a regression-based framework to reconstruct both the density profile and the DM equation of state over the density range probed by observations of the GW inspiral. Using representative DM models as benchmarks, we demonstrate that the method accurately recovers the input equation of state while remaining largely independent of the microscopic realization of DM. Our results show that future GW observations of compact binaries can provide a probe of the equation of state of DM.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2026

Axial Quasi-normal Modes of Boson-Fermion Stars

We study axial quasi-normal modes of boson-fermion stars composed of ordinary nuclear matter and a self-interacting bosonic dark matter component. The equilibrium configurations are obtained by solving the coupled two-fluid Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff equations, where the neutron sector is modeled with several realistic equations of state and the bosonic sector is described by a repulsively self-interacting complex scalar field in the strong-coupling regime. We analyze linear axial perturbations governed by a Regge-Wheeler type equation whose effective potential reflects the combined matter distribution. Using a continued-fraction method, we compute the complex eigenfrequencies of the fundamental and overtone $w$ modes. We obtain the quasi-normal mode spectrum and investigate its dependence on the dark matter particle mass, self-coupling, and the central densities of both fluids for several realistic neutron star equations of state. We find that increasing the dark matter fraction shifts the oscillation frequencies and damping times. It can also reorder the mode hierarchy through crossings, and it drives a continuous transition from neutron star-like to boson star-like ringdown behavior. Our results demonstrate that the ringdown gravitational-wave signal from post-merger compact objects could encode clear imprints of a dark matter component, offering a new probe of the dark sector with future gravitational-wave observatories.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2026

Cosmological signals of dark matter semi-annihilation

The growth of primordial density fluctuations in the early Universe leads to an inhomogeneous dark matter distribution at high redshift, where semi-annihilation processes of the form $χχ\rightarrow χ^c ϕ$, with $ϕ$ being dark radiation, can occur with a sizable rate. Using a state-of-the-art model for the cosmological boost factor, we compute the resulting redshift-dependent flux of boosted dark matter particles generated by semi-annihilation, and we study the implications of the boosted component for structure formation and direct detection experiments. We find a model independent upper limit on the semi-annihilation cross-section from structure formation, which reads $\langleσ_{2\to1} v\rangle\leq4.2\times10^{-19}~\left(m_χ/1~\rm GeV\right)~\mathrm{cm}^3/{\rm s}$. Further, we find that the cosmological contribution to the boosted dark matter flux can be comparable to the galactic one, providing an $O(1)$ enhancement to the sensitivity of dark matter searches, thus slightly enhancing the discovery potential in direct detection experiments of semi-annihilation scenarios where the dark matter interacts with the nucleus.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2026

GRB~250704B/EP250704a a Short Gamma-Ray Burst Powered by a Magnetar

GRB~250704B/EP250704a, identified as a short gamma-ray burst (sGRB), exhibited prolonged X-ray emission following the prompt phase and, in optical and infrared (IR) bands, an unusual one-day plateau succeeded by a rapid decline. This sGRB was observed by multiple satellites and ground-based observatories across the electromagnetic spectrum. This study presents temporal and spectral analyses from radio to gamma-ray frequencies, spanning several observation periods beginning after the trigger and continuing for nearly 2 days. The results of the temporal and spectral analyses of the prompt episode, the extended X-ray component, and the afterglow phase are consistent with a millisecond magnetar undergoing accretion. The long-lasting X-ray emission is attributed to the internal energy dissipation of the magnetar spin-down power, governed by the magnetization parameter; the extended optical/IR plateau to synchrotron afterglow emission with energy injection; and the steep decay to changes in microphysical parameters during the post-jet break phase. The X-ray observations are consistent with the superposition of spin-down luminosity and synchrotron afterglow scenario. These findings suggest that the compact-object remnant is most likely a long-lived magnetar.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

Imprints of energy injection by compact dark stars in the 21-cm signal

A strongly self-interacting component of asymmetric dark matter particles can form compact dark stars. The high dark matter density in these objects may allow significant dark matter annihilation into Standard Model particles, even when the portals to the visible sector are extremely weak. In this paper, we argue that compact dark stars could constitute an important source of energy injection during the cosmic dawn era in addition to that of the baryonic stars. Therefore, if dark stars annihilate into photons, the luminosity of dark stars may affect the reionization history of the Universe. We show that the evolution with the redshift of the temperature brightness of the 21-cm line could significantly deviate from the expectations of standard Cosmology, thus providing a new probe for particle dark matter.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2026

Gravitational Waves from Mergers of Asymmetric Dark Stars

A strongly self-interacting component of asymmetric dark matter (DM) particles can form compact dark stars (DSs). These objects have a broad spectrum of masses and radii, with distinct evolution histories from both neutron stars and black holes (BHs). We argue that these differences allow a population of DSs to contribute significantly to the astrophysical merger rate in unique and discernible ways. Specifically, their merger rate could dominate at low redshifts over other sources, while their mass function may populate windows outside known astrophysical processes. We investigate the structure and formation of DSs within a dissipative model, and calculate the enhancement of their merger cross-section due to tidal deformation effects. From this, we derive the present-day merger rate and its differential mass distribution. These findings open a new window to probe DM substructure and particle interactions through present and future gravitational wave (GW) observatories.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2025

Investigating sub-MeV dark matter annihilation to neutrinos using direct detection experiments

Dark matter (DM) could self-annihilate into neutrinos in dense regions of the Universe. We consider the resulting flux of neutrinos from the Milky Way DM halo and derive exclusion limits on the annihilation cross-section using XENONnT electron recoil data. Assuming a $J$-factor independent of the annihilation cross-section, we find leading limits for DM masses below $\mathcal{O}$(MeV). Self-annihilating DM affects the DM halo via dissolution, introducing a cross-section dependency on the halo profile and thus the $J$-factor. We discuss such a situation in more detail, finding that the signal rate is below the experimental sensitivity of XENONnT, leaving the annihilation cross-section unconstrained.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2025

Dark matter spikes with strongly self-interacting particles

An unavoidable prediction of scenarios with Dark Matter (DM) self-interactions is the existence of number changing processes that convert $n$ initial DM particles into $m$ final ones ($n\to m$ processes), possibly accompanied by Standard Model particles. We argue that the $n\rightarrow m$ processes could be probed in DM spikes at the center of galaxies, where the high density may allow sizable rates. We systematically study the implications of the $n \to m$ processes in DM spikes, including other possible interactions involving DM, such as annihilation and self-scattering. We find that for $n\geq3$, the spike is significantly depleted for $n\to m$ cross-sections favored by DM production via thermal freeze-out. On the other hand, the semi-annihilation of two DM particles into one DM particle and one Standard Model particle preserves in general the structure of the spike. Such density modifications significantly affect phenomenological studies of both astrophysics and particle DM processes around DM spikes.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2025

Polarization Measurements as a Probe of Axion-Photon Coupling: a Study of GRB 221009A

Axion Like Particles (ALPs) can be produced in Gamma Ray Bursts, altering the polarization of the electromagnetic emission in these events. For the first time, we derive bounds on the axion-photon coupling from polarization measurements of GRB 221009A, performing a full calculation of the Stokes parameters, as it is typically done in the astrophysics community. Within astrophysical uncertainties, our limits on the axion-photon coupling are competitive with complementary probes in the axion mass range $10^{-9}$ eV $\lesssim m_a \lesssim 10^{-8}$ eV, further allowing to probe motivated parameter space of ALP dark matter.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2025

Boosted dark matter from semi-annihilations in the galactic center

In some scenarios, the dark matter relic abundance is set by the semi-annihilation of two dark matter particles into one dark matter particle and one Standard Model particle. These semi-annihilations might still be occurring today in the Galactic Center at a significant rate, generating a flux of boosted dark matter particles. We investigate the possible signals of this flux component in direct detection and neutrino experiments for sub-GeV dark matter masses. We show that for typical values of the semi-annihilation cross-section, the sensitivity of current experiments to the spin-independent dark matter-proton scattering cross-section can be several orders of magnitude larger than current constraints from cosmic-ray boosted dark matter. We also argue that the upcoming DARWIN and DUNE experiments may probe scattering cross-sections as low as $10^{-37}\,{\rm cm}^2$ for masses between 30 MeV and 1 GeV.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2023

Microphysical Parameter Variation in GRB Stratified Afterglows and Closure Relations: from sub-GeV to TeV Observations

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are one of the most exciting sources that offer valuable opportunities for investigating the evolution of energy fraction given to magnetic fields and particles through microphysical parameters during relativistic shocks. The delayed onset of GeV-TeV radiation from bursts detected by the \textit{Fermi} Large Area Telescope (\textit{Fermi}-LAT) and Cherenkov Telescopes provide crucial information in favor of the external-shock model. Derivation of the closure relations (CRs) and the light curves in external shocks requires knowledge of GRB afterglow physics. In this manuscript, we derive the CRs and light curves in a stratified medium with variations of microphysical parameters of the synchrotron and SSC afterglow model radiated by an electron distribution with a hard and soft spectral index. Using Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulations, we apply the current model to investigate the evolution of the spectral and temporal indexes of those GRBs reported in the Second Gamma-ray Burst Catalog (2FLGC), which comprises 29 bursts with photon energies above 10 GeV and of those bursts (GRB 180720B, 190114C, 190829A and 221009A) with energetic photons above 100 GeV, which can hardly be modeled with the CRs of the standard synchrotron scenario. The analysis shows that i) the most likely afterglow model using synchrotron and SSC emission on the 2FLGC corresponds to the constant-density scenario, and ii) variations of spectral (temporal) index keeping the temporal (spectral) index constant could be associated with the evolution of microphysical parameters, as exhibited in GRB 190829A and GRB 221009A.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

An Explanation of GRB Fermi-LAT Flares and High-Energy Photons in Stratified Afterglows

The second {\itshape Fermi}/LAT gamma-ray burst (GRB) catalog (2FLGC) spanning the first decade of operations by the LAT collaboration was recently released. The closure relations of the synchrotron forward shock (FS) model are not able to reproduce a sizeable portion of the afterglow-phase light curves in this collection, indicating that there may be a large contribution from some other mechanism. Recently, synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) light curves from the reverse shock (RS) regions were derived in the thick- and thin-shell regime for a constant-density medium, and it was demonstrated that analytical light curves could explain the~GeV flare observed in several bursts from 2FLGC, including GRB 160509A. Here, we generalise the SSC RS scenario from the constant density to a stratified medium, and show that this contribution helps to describe the early light curves exhibited in some {\itshape Fermi}/LAT-detected bursts. As a particular case, we model a sample of eight bursts that exhibited a short-lasting emission with the synchrotron and SSC model from FS and RS regions, evolving in a stellar-wind environment, constraining the microphysical parameters, the circumburst density, the bulk Lorentz factor, and the fraction of shock-accelerated electrons. We demonstrate that the highest-energy photons can only be described by the SSC from the forward-shock region.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

Proton capture in compact dark stars and observable implications

Asymmetric dark matter under certain conditions could form compact star-like objects, which can be searched either through gravitational lensing or by observation of gravitational waves from binaries involving such compact objects. In this paper we analyze possible signatures of such dark stars made of asymmetric dark matter with a portal to the Standard Model. We argue that compact dark stars could capture protons and electrons from the interstellar medium, which then accumulate in the core of the dark star, forming a very hot gas that emits X-rays or $γ$-rays. For dark matter parameters compatible with current laboratory constraints, compact dark stars could be sufficiently luminous to be detected at the Earth as point sources in the X-ray or $γ$-ray sky.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Modeling Gamma-ray burst Afterglow observations with an Off-axis Jet emission

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are fascinating extragalactic objects. They represent a fantastic opportunity to investigate unique properties not exhibited in other sources. Multi-wavelength afterglow observations from some short- and long-duration GRBs reveal an atypical long-lasting emission that evolves differently from the canonical afterglow light curves favoring the off-axis emission. We present an analytical synchrotron afterglow scenario, and the hydrodynamical evolution of an off-axis top-hat jet decelerated in a stratified surrounding environment. The analytical synchrotron afterglow model is shown during the coasting, deceleration (off- and on-axis emission), and the post-jet-break decay phases, and the hydrodynamical evolution is computed by numerical simulations showing the time evolution of the Doppler factor, the half-opening angle, the bulk Lorentz factor, and the deceleration radius. We show that numerical simulations are in good agreement with those derived with our analytical approach. We apply the current synchrotron model and describe successfully the delayed non-thermal emission observed in a sample of long and short GRBs with evidence of off-axis emission. Furthermore, we provide constraints on the possible afterglow emission by requiring the multi-wavelength upper limits derived for the closest Swift-detected GRBs and promising gravitational-wave events.

astro-ph.HE↗